Alleged N1.35bn Fraud: Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62446

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Synagogue rejects Coroner’s verdict 10

Iyaloja of Ijebuland, Elewuju assassinated 11 in Ogun

ALLEGED N1.35bn FRAUD:

Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

•"You mean I'm now a prisoner?" shocked Lamido exclaims •Pleads not guilty to 28-count charges •Why they were taken to Kano Central Prison

K

A N O — A FEDERAL High Court, sitting in Kano, yesterday, ordered former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, accused of fraud, remanded in prison custody in Kano Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

A Class Act

•P.17

Come away, my brothers and •P.19 sisters

Mr & Mrs

REMANDED—Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State (left) and sons at the court in Kano, Kano State, yesterday.

Pull-out inside

National Politics: Whither S-West APC?

Court sacks 22 LG chairmen, councillors in Rivers 9

Fuel price hike: NNPC, others defy DPR directive

44

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

ROUNDTABLE: From left: Mr Nat Ofo, Vice President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, ICSAN; Bisi Adeyemi, MD/CEO, Deloitte Corporate Services Ltd; Dr Christopher Kolade, Chairman of the occasion and Dr Chris Ogbechie, Guest Speaker at the ICSAN roundtable meeting on Corporate Governance at the Civic Centre in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

ALLEGED N1.35bn FRAUD: Lamido, two sons remanded in prison Continues from Page 1

till September 28.

The former governor is facing a 28-count charge alongside his two sons, and one Wada Abubakar in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering that amounted to over N1.35 billion.

Lamido who was arraigned for receiving N1.35 billion kickback from a government contractor was shocked and could not believe his ears after the judge turned down his bail

application and ordered him remanded.

Immediately the court rose and the Deputy Chief Registrar of Federal High Court, Mr Solomon Akpedah ushered the former governor and his two sons into a waiting van for a journey to Kano central prison, Lamido exclaimed saying: “You mean I am now a prisoner”? The Deputy Chief Registrar, however, tried to calm him down saying “No sir, you are not a prisoner ”.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE There are four important words and actions in life. Love and respect, honesty and truth. Without these you have nothing — Take Heart Quotes

H

AVE you ever tried to see what happens within as you truly listen and also observe how you communicate with others? Do you show love and support through the way you talk and act? Do you even recognize how you show up for yourself, through selfless act of kindness, love and respect with others? Consider the idea that when one chooses limiting behavior, in part or in whole, it is a reflection of one’s character. If you find yourself yelling at someone, saying things you regret, or barking foul language, you eventually will be remorseful.

That is, of course, if you have a conscience. Sure, we all might have experience challenges and difficult days, but how we handle ourselves in those situations, whether or not we realize our flaws, is what makes all the difference to having a calm perspective and doing what’s best for us.

If there’s only one thing that comes from presenting yourself well, it is that you create a happier life for yourself. You do this by showing up for yourself; choosing your reactions. Since you’re more aware of what you say and do, you won’t get all worked up in the emotional end of a situation. In time, you figure out how to make every situation work better for you.

The alleged fraud money was allegedly paid into accounts controlled by the governor and his sons.

The Economic & Financial Crimes Commission has accused the four suspects of money laundering, among other charges.

They were due for a r r a i g n m e n t , Wednesday, but the court appearance was rescheduled to yesterday. Security was stepped up around the court vicinity in Kano ahead of the hearing.

The ruling Delivering a ruling, Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered that the four accused persons be remanded in a Kano Prison because the EFCC said they lacked enough facilities to accommodate them.

She rejected the pleas of defence counsel, Effiong Effiong, SAN, that the accused be kept in EFCC custody, saying the commission had complained of inadequate facilities.

Justice Anyadike said: “The case is hereby adjourned for hearing till September 28, while the four accused persons are to be remanded in prison custody in Kano”.

The trial judge further

ruled that “the case will be handed over to a vacation judge to listen to the bail application while the judiciary goes on vacation next Monday.

A 28-count charge bordering on a number of alleged breaches of trust

by Sule Lamido, Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido and one

Aminu Wada Abubakar, was read in court.

They pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them.

The judge ruled that the accused persons be remanded pending the hearing of their bail applications.

Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr. Effiong, had argued that remanding the accused persons in prison would amount to trampling on their fundamental human rights.

He pleaded that they be sent to either of EFCC's facilities in Abuja or Kano.

However, counsel to EFCC, Chile Okoroma, objected to the plea, saying EFCC's facilities were full to capacity both in Kano and Abuja.

There was pandemonium in court between those supporting Mr. Lamido and those against him, leading the

Police to fire tear-gas canisters into the air to disperse the crowd.

The former governor and all the other accused persons had entered a plea of not guilty to the 28 count charges.

Lamido who had earlier pleaded with a court attendant to switch off the ceiling fan directly over him, explained that "I have catarrh and I don’t want anything that will aggravate the situation."

The defence lawyer, who noticed the physical condition of his 69-yearold client pleaded orally for him to sit down but was overruled by the presiding judge who declared that such gesture runs foul of the established rules. Lamido and his co-accused persons were subsequently transported to Kano central prison amidst tight security.

Buhari never ordered all military checkpoints dismantled — NSA

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA—THE National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari never ordered the dismantling of all military checkpoints in the country.

President Buhari has come under criticism in some quarters for directing the removal of military checkpoints which some claimed has given terrorists a leeway to step up their attacks in recent times.

But Col Dasuki (rtd) who met top military and security chiefs in his office, in Abuja, yesterday, clarified that the directive of the President was never a blanket order to remove all military checkpoints.

The NSA said military roadblocks in flashpoints

would continue to be maintained while those in relatively peaceful areas would be dismantled but soldiers would continue to be positioned in those areas while not blocking roads.

He said it was both conventional and a global practice for governments to increase security measures whenever insecurity was heightened and appealed to citizens to endure attendant inconveniences which he said were temporary.

Col Dasuki described essential security checkpoints in vulnerable areas as “ n e c e s s a r y inconveniences” to ensure criminals and terrorists did not have easy passage. He cited some arrests made recently including that of a mastermind of bomb attacks in some towns

who were nabbed by Nigerian troops at such checkpoints, as justifying the position of the federal government on the issue.

According to him, “ whenever necessary, the soldiers will mount their points to conduct security screening in emergency situations and for quick response”.

He condemned indiscriminate proliferation of security checkpoints by unauthorised bodies, especially those used for extortion and that such practices would not be condoned.

His words: “We will continue to ensure that the necessary or essential security checkpoints are not avenues for extortion, indiscipline and other forms of corrupt practices that can exacerbate traffic flow and cause road accidents.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

How cult war claims 6 lives in Ikorodu

By Esther Onyegbula

L

AGOS—A 32-year-old surveyor, identified simply as Kunle, and five others have been shot dead in a hotel in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The incident, which happened July 6, was the result of a supremacy battle between suspected Eiye and Aiye confraternity members in the community.

It was gathered that suspected cult members whose mission was unknown, stormed the hotel, shooting sporadically into the air.

A witness who identified the surveyor as Kunle and his friend Samson, were said to be in the hotel on Allison Street, when suspected Eiye members stormed the hotel and shot two of them.

It was learned that immediately the surveyor sighted the Eiye member, he took to his heels and ran towards the Lagos State Government Junior High School where his vehicle was said to be parked.

Rukiat Adebayo, a resident of the area, told Vanguard that the victim was later shot in the school premises when he was about to escape in his vehicle, while Samson was said to have been shot in the leg.

She said: “Every trader in the market on Allison Street ran for dear lives when the suspected cultists stormed the hotel, shooting sporadically. After the dust had settled, we all returned to our shops and

discovered that three persons had been shot by the cult members.”

Vanguard gathered that, after Samson was shot at the hotel, he was rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital but was referred to another hospital due to the severity of the injury he sustained from the gunshot.

Another resident who identified himself as Tunde Bello, said the Eiye members

were not satisfied as they went to Itumoja, another community in Ikorodu and killed two other persons after they had killed two persons on Allison Street.

Those who were killed at Itumoja were identified as Idowu and Afeez.

Lamenting, Ijeoma, a food vendor at Itumoja, said cult clashes at Ikorodu had crippled their business as residents refused to patronize

them for fear of being hit by stray bullets.

Mr Kareem Bombata, the leader of Onyabo, a local vigilante in the community, said: “We had got rid of the cult members recently but I was surprised seeing them coming into the streets again.

We want Lagos State government to enact a law to deal with cult clashes in the state, as lives are lost whenever they are fighting.”

ACCIDENT: Scene of an accident on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, at Zuba Junction in Abuja, yesterday. Inset: A victim of the accident. Photo: NAN.

‘49-year-old gynaecologist in Edo committed suicide'

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY—THE 49 year-old Chief Consultant Gynaecologist and Managing Director of Hope Medical Centre Benin City, Dr John Abode, who was found dead in his wardrobe last Tuesday, may have actually committed suicide, Vanguard gathered.

Vanguard learned from a top security source that the deceased who was said to have attempted suicide on several occasions, but was stopped by the widow, injected himself with a yet-to-be disclosed substance before heading to his wardrobe where he hanged himself with his belt.

It was learned that the day the sad incident occurred, the wife attended a church service where she later called their 10-year-old son to inform the father that she wanted to speak with him.

The source told Vanguard: “It was at that point that the boy searched the house and discovered the deceased body in

the wardrobe.”

It was learned that the deceased's wife rushed down to their residence and it was in an attempt to see if she could revive the husband that she moved the body out of the wardrobe.

Vanguard was further informed that from investigations, the wife had earlier informed the deceased's

family about the attempted suicide in the past by their son, which made the widow to be deeply involved in church activities to intercede for the husband in prayers.

It was further gathered that though the deceased, who also is a staff of the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital in Benin City, was a successful gynaecologist, his alleged

occasional erratic behaviour at home had been a source of great concern to the wife, who had always counselled him against his urge to commit suicide.

Though the deceased's family is suspecting foul play, autopsy results so far indicated that the deceased died as a result of cessation, mostlycausedbysuicide.However,the familyofthedeceasedcalledforanother autopsy which is being conducted in Lagos.

BRT driver docked over man's death

L

By Opeyemi Lepe

AGOS—A BRT Bus driver, Olayinka John, 43, has been arraigned before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly driving on public highway in a dangerous and reckless manner and causing the death of one Musa Abdulateef.

The accused, whose address is unknown, was said to have committed the alleged offence on Ikorodu Expressway at Shyllon Junction, Ilupeju area of Lagos.

John (accused) was arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of reckless and careless driving.

One of the charge read: “That you Olayinka John ‘m’ on June 8, 2015 at 10.00hrs Ikorodu Expressway at Shyllon Junction, Ilupeju Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial district being the driver in charge of BRT Bus with registration number AAA 04 XB Body No. T-017 drove same vehicle on the public highway in a dangerous and reckless manner and caused the death of

one Musa Abdulateef.”

Police prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Olatunde, informed the court that the offence was punishable under Section 28 (1) Cap172 Vol. 7 of the road traffic law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

However, when the charge was read to the accused before Magistrate Akeem Fashola, he pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Fashola admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must have paid three years tax and own landed property in Lagos.

Kidnappers of Delta poly lecturer demand N20m ransom

O

By Ochuko Akuopha

LEH—ONE week after he was kidnapped by gunmen, abductors of a lecturer at Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro Mr. Chike Gbemudu, are demanding a N20 million ransom for his release.

A source in the institution, who disclosed this to journalists, said contact had been established with the kidnappers, decrying the huge sum of money being demanded for his release.

“We cannot fathom the reason for his kidnap.

Lectures are not rich, they are mere teachers who are making immense contribution to the development of this country,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said appealing to the kidnappers to release the lecturer unhurt and unconditionally," the source said.

Gbemudu, who is of the Directorate of General Studies in the institution, was abducted in the early hours of Friday and is still being held hostage by his captors.

Meanwhile, students of the institution have decried the rising wave of armed robbery attacks and other forms of criminality in the metropolis.

The students, who condemned the kidnap of their lecturer, lamented the incessant incidents of armed robbery in their hostels, saying they could hardly sleep with their eyes closed.

Reiterating that they had been suffering brutality and losing valuable items to hoodlums on daily basis, one of the students who sought anonymity, called on security agencies to intensify surveillance in the area.

Efforts to reach the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ozoro police division, Mr. Evans Onomuighokpo, for comments were abortive at press time.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—7

Baby of the Year returns after successful heart surgery in India

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

SUSPECTS: Alhaji Muhammed Katsina, Oyo State Commissioner of Police (left) parading suspected carjackers and vehicles recovered from them (main and inset) in Ibadan, Oyo State. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

9 construction workers escape death as 4-storey building collapses

By Evelyn Usman, Bose Adelaja & Monsur Olowoopejo

L

AGOS—NINE construction workers escaped death by the whiskers yesterday, after a four-storey building collapsed in Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos State.

The building, located on 24, Commercial Road, was reportedly under construction when it caved in. The cause was attributed to substandard building materials. Time was 2.30p.m.

Report said the construction workers, some of who were Muslim faithful, had taken some time off to rest, when their colleagues noticed signs of imminent cracks on the walls and alerted those observing their siesta.

Seconds after they rushed out of the building, it went down.

Confirming the incident, the South-West spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said: “No life was lost. The building was under construction but no worker was trapped. We are working to evacuate the debris.”

Kidnappers kill victim in Aba

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA— TRAGEDY struck in Aba, Abia State, yesterday, as kidnappers killed a woman a few days after she was abducted, and dumped her corpse in a bush.

The deceased, whose name was given as Chioma Chukwura, was abducted with her driver along Azumini Road, Ukwa East Local Government Area, on her way from Calabar, Cross River

State, last Sunday.

Vanguard gathered that the woman’s driver, identified as Ike Chikodi, later escaped from the kidnappers and reported the incident to a police highway patrol team he ran into.

He led the team to the location, only to discover that the kidnappers had killed the woman and fled the area.

Sources told Vanguard that the kidnappers demanded ransom from the family, but

did not wait for the family to meet their demand.

He added that the kidnappers must have taken the action when they suspected that security agencies were on their trail.

Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, Onyeke Ezekiel, a Deputy Superinten-dent of Police, who confirmed the incident, said the corpse had been deposited at an undisclosed morgue in the city.

... as unknown men abduct 80-yr-old woman in Ekiti

A

DO-EKITI—MRS. Rose Aina, 80, was kidnapped on Tuesday at Ilogbo-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Her abduction came barely weeks after a nurse at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Margaret Aladenika, and a Catholic priest, Emmanuel Akingbade, were kidnapped in the state.

She was sleeping in her room at about 9p.m. when she was abducted and efforts made to secure her release had proved abortive.

Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers were yet to make contact with her family.

A source said: “We have been searching for her without success. Nobody knows where they have taken her and they have not contacted the family.

“This is an old woman; she is a poor woman who only depends on what her children and good Samaritans give to her.”

Ekiti State Police Command spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi,

said efforts were on by the officers and men of the

command to secure the release of the octogenarian.

Pakistani jailed 18 months over 25.4kg heroine

By Daniel Eteghe

J

USTICE C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, yesterday sentenced a Pakistani, Iftikhar Arslan to 18 months imprisonment for importing 25.400kg of heroin valued at N220 million.

The convict was charged with a one-count charge of unlawful importation of 25.400kg of heroin contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Justice Aneke said heroin is a dangerous drug that would have caused serious harm.

According to him, the convict is a first time offender, who is

remorseful over his action and that he is a student who deserves a second chance to correct his mistakes.

AGOS—SIX-monthold 2015 First Baby of the Year, Miss Oluwajomiloju Ogundimu, who was flown abroad for medical attention, has returned after undergoing a successful heart surgery in India.

Sadly, mother of Oluwajomiloju, a first class accountancy graduate from the University of Lagos, UNILAG, died after giving birth at about 12:01a.m. on January 1, before the baby was later diagnosed of a heart-related problem.

However, with the prompt intervention of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, the baby was flown to India.

Little Ogundimu and her grandmother, Mrs. Ogunnoiki Folake, were at Alausa at the weekend to show their appreciation to Ambode for his kind gesture.

Speaking on behalf of the baby, Folake, who was accompanied by Mrs. Kemi Martins, a family member, expressed gratitude to Ambode and prayed for God to grant him mercy and wisdom to take the state to desired destination.

She said: “I dropped my request for assistance to Governor Ambode on Monday June 1, and he gave approval to my request by Wednesday June 3. God used him for me and for this I am very grateful.”

She also appealed to the governor to assist the baby in travelling back to India for the next appointment, adding that God would reward him for rendering help to her granddaughter.

SEIZURES: Officers and policemen attached to Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences raiding roadside traders along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, OshodiOke axis, seizing goods and KEKE Marwa, yesterday.

PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Gowon, Utomi harp on integrity in governance zThings are changing for the better — Gowon

By Olasunkami Akoni & Chris Onuoha

L

AGOS —FORMER Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) and top public affairs analyst, Professor Patrick Utomi, have urged leaders at all levels of government to be upright and imbibe the culture of integrity.

The duo spoke, yesterday, in Lagos at the unveiling of a book, “Integrity in Governance: The Nigerian Experience,” authored by Arinze Echeta.

Gowon, who said things are changing for the better in the country in spite of the avalanche of challenges, however, added that there is need for collaboration of all Nigerians to entrench integrity in all areas of life, in the nation, especially in governance.

He said: “For a very long time, practically everything Nigerian, including the people, young and old, male and female, was an object of suspicion both at home and abroad. Things got so bad that our value was virtually worth far less than the sheet of paper on which our names were written and our passports were derided worldwide, unlike what it was soon after the civil war and many years after.

"Much of the problem was not so much that foreigners had scant regard for us as in the fact that we lost confidence and trust in ourselves. At the root of the problem was greed, personal and corporate, which also could be traced to narrow vision and an unwillingness to promote the good or happiness of the greatest number. The good news, however, is that things are changing for the better.”

Gowon stressed that Nigerians need to go back to the drawing board by inculcating the right values and morals in our children because “integrity and moral values begin to collapse when parents see nothing wrong in their wards bringing in materials that they are not provided for. Such children grow up to remorselessly appropriate the common wealth and spread poverty and want in the land.”

The retired general said Nigeria could fight graft to a standstill and win the war via "a reorientation of values, readdressing our relationship with our Creator, upholding strong family values and embracing the concept of hard work.”

Leaders must lead by example—Utomi

Similarly, Utomi said if the country must get it right, our leaders must lead by example.

Utomi, who disclosed that 30 per cent of Nigeria’s revenues disappear from government’s coffers, said: “Institutions exist to ensure integrity. Nigeria’s lack of integrity made the President of the United States, Barack Obama, under the administration of President

Goodluck Jonathan to visit Ghana instead of Nigeria.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, chairman of the event, Justice Babasola Ogunade said: “One of the problems of this country is that we forget the sacrifices other people have made. While we sang the national anthem, we say the labours of our heroes shall not be in vain. When I returned to this country in 1971, the situation wasn’t that bad but

now, it is really mind boggling.

"People ask for gratifications openly, it has become almost a norm today, people do it with bravado. Integrity is one word they don’t want to hear, not to talk about integrity in governance which is an anathema. I was happy with the author for having the courage to write on the subject of integrity."

BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Representative, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Segun Olulade; Special Guest of Honour/Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Justice Babasola Ogunade and author of the book Arinze Felix Echeta, during the launching of the book “Integrity in Governance: The Nigerian Experience,” in Lagos, yesterday.

IGP orders cancellation of discriminatory Police regulations against women zPromises to fight gender-based violence

A

BUJA— THE Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Solomon Arase, yesterday, ordered the cancellation of all Police regulations that are discriminatory to women police officers just as he promised to fight all forms of gender-based violence in the country.

The IGP spoke at a stakeholders consultative meeting on improving Police response to sexual and gender-based violence and gender mainstreaming in Abuja.

He said it is morally reprehensible to disallow new female police intakes from marrying until they had spent some years in the force.

Describing the rule that a female police officer has to stay for some years before

marriage as very repugnant, the IGP said: “If the men can marry while in the training school, why can’t the women too?"

On gender-based offences, he said the questions that policemen often ask victims are most of the time offensive.

He said: “This has to stop and this is why we are creating a separate technical platform where victims can lodge their complaints for onward transfer to the police investigators.

“A police force that cannot respond to the needs of the public that they serve is a failure.”

The Force’s Gender Advisor, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, who organized the event, said the force recognizes the negative impact of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and other vices on the society.

She noted that the achievement of gender parity in the force is a task that must done, adding that all police commands and formations now have gender desks to ensure that police women are not unduly victimized.

In her goodwill message, the UN Women Country Representative, Dr. Grace Ongile, reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to working with the force to curb gender-based violence.

Also speaking, Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs Kemi Okeyondo, expressed delight that gone were the days when police women were only used as ushers during events, adding: “Today, they have taken up more professional roles.”

Completion of major roads, 2nd Niger bridge remains priority — FG

A

BUJA — THE Federal Ministry of Workshas said completion and rehabilitation of the second Niger bridge and major roads across the country remained the priority of the ministry in 2015.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Dauda Kigbu, made this known, yesterday, in Abuja while speaking with State House correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the ministry.

He explained that the ministry was also working on the Lagos-Ibadan, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Mokwa-Bida express roads as well as a number of other roads across the country.

He said: “As you may be aware, 90 per cent of the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Works is mainly on roads. And that we went through all the major projects across the country and I emphasised the need for seeking other windows of funding outside the national budget.

“Particularly, looking at the PPP model as well as looking at areas of support of multilateral agencies, such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank and similar bodies.

“But, I can tell you that we are working right now on Lagos-Ibadan; we are also looking at Enugu-Port Harcourt; we are also looking at Mokwa-Bida and a number of other roads across the country.

“The second Niger Bridge, as I speak, there is ongoing activities, particularly the early works, pilings and the rest of the work is going on at the moment and some other activities are also going on.

“Also remember that this particular project is under the (Public Private Partnership) PPP, which I also elaborately mentioned to the President.“ According to him, President Buhari has promised to look into his suggestion regarding funding of roads.

“The President is committed to developing this country and he is passionate about roads because roads are central to national development,“ he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—9

it as it is a judgement against the people of Rivers State. On the explosion, this is just a make-up act by PDP as such acts are notorious with their activities in Rivers State to justify any of their diabolical and evil acts against Rivers State and her people.

“Acts of killings and bombings are associated with PDP, so if the police are serious at unravelling this, they should beam their searchlights at PDP. We would have declared today a day of mourning in Rivers State if not for the favourable judgement we got at the tribunal in Abuja.”

By Jimitota Onoyume & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

P

ORT HARCOURT — A Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, has sacked 22 local government council chairmen and their councillors who were sworn in on May 26 by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi after their election conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, on May 23.

Justice Lambo Akanbi in his ruling on a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described the decision of the former government in Rivers State to go ahead with the election despite a pending court order asking all parties in the suit to maintain status quo as a flagrant abuse of the rule of law.

The judge said the wind of change was on and there was no room for acts of impunity and abuse of court process.

Setting aside the election of May 23, Justice Akanbi said in the face of a flagrant violation of a court order, the court must invoke its disciplinary powers to protect it from merely being a toothless dog that can bark but not bite.

He said: “Parties should not resort to self help when a matter is before the court. Once the parties are aware of the court process, parties are bound to respect court process. They should on no account resort to self help.

“Whenever there is such, the court must invoke its disciplinary jurisdiction. Unless the court exercises its disciplinary jurisdiction in appropriate cases, it may lose its respect. It may be reduced to a toothless dog which barks but can’t bite.

“Consequently, the application of the applicants is sustained, setting aside the purported local government elections conducted during the pendency of the suit.”

Dissolved Council Chairmen apply for stay of execution

Meanwhile, the sacked local government chairmen said, yesterday, that they have approached the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt seeking a stay of execution on the judgment of the high court that sacked them from office.

The chairmen claimed that they applied for the stay of execution order after the high court had in its judgement dissolved their office and that the order would be authenticated today for service to the state government and other relevant bodies.

The sacked 23 council chairman on the platform of All Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, while briefing journalists in Abuja also accused Governor Nyesom Wike of obliterating all the legacies of his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi.

They also called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and other security agencies to call the governor to order, alleging that the action of the governor since he assumed office was capable of

You can’t put something on nothing —PDP

DIALOGUE: From left: Group Head, Retail Banking, South, FirstBank, Rosemary Asiegbu; Group Head, Retail Banking, Lagos Island, FirstBank, Tunde Owolabi; Chairman, The Asian Banker, Emmanuel Daniel; Associate Director, Management Consulting, KPMG Advisory Services, Ngozi Chidozie and Group Head, Retail Banking, Abuja 4, North Directorate, FirstBank, Muntari Zubairu at the 2nd Annual West Africa International Retail Banking Dialogue, hosted by FirstBank in Lagos, yesterday.

Court sacks 22 LG chairmen, councillors in Rivers zAPC to appeal judgement zExplosion rocks court complex zAs Wike swears in 22 LG caretaker c'ttee chairmen breaching peace in the state.

Election followed due process —LG chairmen

The state Chairman of ALGON, who is also the Council Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Mr. Sogbeye Eli, alongside his colleagues said their election on May 23, 2015 as was conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, followed all the due process.

Eli said: “You are aware of the report of the nullification of the election held May 23, 2015 by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, whereas, that election has been concluded and local government chairmen emerged from it and councillors have been sworn in.

“You will recall that we have been under atmosphere of war levelled against us by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. The same governor has done the same to make it impossible for the third tier of government to work in the state.

“We are joining issues with the governor of Rivers State over the same litigation because we have approached the court seeking order restraining Rivers State government from tampering in whatsoever with our tenure in office, which constitutionally is three years by the provisions of Rivers State Law 2 of 2012.

“We have gone to court to ask that governors, the state House of Assembly and other

agencies connected there to, be restrained from tampering with our tenures.

“Everyone is subject to the law and local government chairmen have the right to remain in their offices because they have the mandate of the people of Rivers State in their respective LGAs.” They also accused the judge of having personal interest in the matter as the matter taken in the court was not listed among the cases for the day.

On the allegation that the APC was responsible for the bomb explosion that rocked the court premises immediately the judgment was delivered, Eli said his party was not a lawless party and cannot resort to self help.

Wike commends judgment

Governor Wike has lauded the judgement of the court, saying that the decision to go ahead with the election despite a pending court order by the out-gone government was antithetical to the principles of rule law and a move designed to foist a state of utter helplessness on the court.

The governor, who spoke through his media aide, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, wondered why the former governor chose to conduct an election about five days to the end of his administration, when he ran councils with caretaker committees for almost two years, expressing surprise also that billions of naira could be expended on what he termed illegal election when civil servants were owed salaries.

He said: “In the eyes of the

court, and rightly too, the actions of Amaechi and RSIEC were antithetical to the principles of the rule of law, designed to foist a state of utter helplessness on the court.

“Many cannot fathom the rationale in conducting council election five days to his exit as governor of Rivers State when for close to two years, he administered the councils with caretaker committees.

“What many find difficult to come to terms with is the decision to spend billions of Naira on an illegal election that breached all procedural obligations such as the setting up of an election petition tribunal where aggrieved persons can ventilate their grievances and the mandatory notice that must be given before such elections can be conducted amongst others, when civil servants, pensioners, contractors and a host of others are being owed for months.

Ministries stopped receiving monthly overheads in September last year,” he added.

APC to appeal verdict

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Davies Ikanya, meanwhile, said his party will appeal against the verdict of the court.

Ikanya, who spoke through his media aide, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka, also accused the PDP of being behind the explosion around the court premises, yesterday, morning.

“We will study this unfortunate development and unholy judgement and appeal against

However, the Deputy Publicity Secretary, PDP in Rivers State, Mr Samuel Wonosike, said that the judgement showed that all arms of government should be given the freedom to do their jobs.

According to him, such would strengthen the nation’s democratic process.

He said: “The judgement shows clearly how democracy is working when all arms of government are doing their job without interference. We cannot understand how the main ingredients of elections were missing yet the out-gone government said it conducted an election. No valid voters register, no tribunal to hear pre and post election issues yet they said there was an election.

“They have a right to appeal but remember you can’t put something on nothing.”

Before the ruling, yesterday, an explosion occurred outside the parameter fence of the court, a situation that led to more deployment of heavily armed security personnel, who took time to screen everyone going in and out of the court premises.

Wike swears in Caretaker Committee Chairmen Meanwhile, Governor Wike last night swore in 22 caretaker committee chairmen to replace the elected council executives dissolved by a Federal High Court ruling.

The governor said he vowed to respect the rule of law when he assumed office on May 29, stressing that it was why he did not dissolve what he termed the illegality put in place by the outgone government.

According to him, “some state governors had gone ahead to dissolve councils when they came on board but I took time to allow due process.”

Wike said he did not dissolve the 22 councils, noting that it was the decision of the court.

He said the caretaker committees had to be sworn to avoid any vacuum in government.

The governor warned the newly sworn in caretaker committee chairmen to ensure they discharge their responsibilities effectively, stressing that he would not hesitate to sack anyone found wanting.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

TARIFF HIKE: NERC asks court to vacate restraining order

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS—THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to discharge the ex-parte order restraining it from implementing the new electricity tariff scheduled to take effect from June 1.

Mr Tonbofa Ashimi, the counsel to the commission, informed the court that he had filed the application to discharge the ex-parte order, including a preliminary objection challenging the substantive suit.

Justice Mohammed Idris had given the order in a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by a Lagos lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi.

Idris had restrained the NERC and the electricity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

At the resumed hearing of the case, yesterday, Ashimi told the court that NERC had filed an application seeking to discharge the exparte order.

“We also filed a preliminary objection challenging the suit in its entirety.”

Responding, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Adebiyi told the court that he needed more time to reply to the application on points of law.

The however, adjourned sitting to July 21 for hearing of all pending applications.

At the last adjournment on June 11, NERC had not employed a lawyer.

Coroner’s verdict unreasonable — SYNAGOGUE

By Evelyn Usman, Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

L

AGOS—SYNAGOGUE Church of All Nations, SCOAN, yesterday, described as ‘unreasonable and biased’ the

PROTEST: Students of Lagos State University, protesting the indefinite postponement of their 1st semester exams by the university management, barricaded the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

LASU students shut down Badagry expressway in protest

By Ikenna Asomba

L

AGOS—STUDENTS of the Lagos State University, LASU, yesterday, shut down

APC CRISIS: Don’t write Yoruba off – ARG Adeagbo, Professor Anthony

By Dapo Akinrefon

L

AGOS—IT is too early to say that the Yoruba have lost out from the All Progressives Congress, APC Federal Government they helped to enthrone, leaders of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG have said.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Vanguard, the ARG leaders rebuffed insinuations that the failure to enthrone Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker of the House of Representatives would cast a shadow on the imprint of the Yoruba nation on the new administration.

The ARG delegation, led by its secretary general, Mr. Ayo Afolabi included soccer maestro, Segun Odegbami, executive director of The Yoruba Academy, Dr Ade

Coroner’s Inquest verdict, which held that structural failure due to combination of designs and detailed errors were the cause of last year’s collapse which claimed the lives of 116 worshippers.

The Lagos Coroner’s Inquest into the collapse of a six-storey

building belonging to SCOAN indicted the church for ‘criminal negligence’ and recommended that it be prosecuted.

In a statement signed by the Church’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SCOAN argued that the coroner did not take into account the evidence that the church had started processing the relevant building approval before the incident.

The statement made available to Vanguard, stated that; ‘’As a matter of fact, the amount payable for the processing had already been assessed by the appropriate government agencies. There was no finding that the church engaged the services of unqualified or incompetent professionals for the construction of the building.

“There was no finding that the church procured substandard materials for the construction of the building, as confirmed by officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, who gave evidence at the coroner and certified the materials used were all approved and of good quality.

“The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, SCOAN, therefore rejects the verdict of the coroner on the grounds that it is unreasonable, one-sided and biased. The church maintains its stand that the incident was as a result of sabotage. There was no finding that connected the incident with the lack of a building permit,” the statement added.

SCOAN further said the recommendation for the investigation and prosecution of

Onipede and ARG programme officer, Mr. Segun Balogun.

Affirming that the issues in contention would not diminish the Yoruba, Afolabi said: “We know the political leaders in Yoruba land are up to the challenges of the politics at play.”

Odegbami, who is also coordinator of the ARG in Ogun State, speaking in the same vein said: “It is too early in the day to say the Yoruba have lost out. It is not a sprint event, it is a marathon and when you start a marathon, those who sprint out the first, are usually first to get tired.”

Dr. Adeagbo in his contribution noted the salutary role of the Yoruba Academy in laying the intellectual framework for the Yoruba Agenda that is at the heart of the reintegration plans for the people of the Southwest.

vehicular and commercial activities along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, to protest the indefinite postponement of the institution’s 2014/2015 first semester examination, earlier scheduled to commence on July 6.

The students who were aggrieved that their examination was shifted indefinitely three days to its commencement, barricaded the ever-busy highway, causing a hectic traffic logjam from the LASU gate to Alaba Suru Bus-stop.

The situation, Vanguard gathered held motorists and other road users for over six hours, forcing commuters to trek long distances to their business and work places.

Speaking to Vanguard, the Students’ Union Government, SUG, spokesperson, Mr. Adebanjo Fatai, expressed disgust at the silence of the Visitor to the university, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over the unending crises rocking the state-owned university.

Fatai, who said the silence absolutely negates one of the major electoral promises made to them by the governor, urged him to urgently pass an order to resolve the impasse leading to the disruption the school’s academic calendar.

9hy we postponed exams —LASU management

However, in an official bulletin dated June 3, the university management said it shifted the exams until further notice, as a result of the inconclusive registration exercise by students, which has affected the production of examination dockets, and the inability of the university Senate to meet in order to ratify the amended academic calendar which was approved on its behalf by the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of Senate.

The management in the bulletin stated that between Saturday, June 27 and Thursday, July 2, 2015, of the school’s total population of 11, 333, just 7, 982 students have paid their tuition fees which was reversed to as low as N25, 000 on August 7, 2014 by the last administration.

Of this number that have paid, it said 7, 774 students have registered, while 208 students were yet to register for reasons best known to them, adding that 3, 351 students are yet to pay their tuition fees and are not yet registered and may not sit for the examination should it commence as scheduled.

the contractors and structural engineers used by the church for criminal negligence was premature, pointing out that it gives the impression that the coroner has found the church guilty when in actual fact , a coroner is not allowed in law to make any finding of civil or criminal liability against anybody.

“The church disagrees with the finding that the incident was due to structural failure. The church considers it strange that the coroner did not refer in its verdict to the evidence of the registered structural engineer and contractor used by the church nor did it evaluate the conflicting evidence given by civil and structural engineers as to whether or not the incident was as a result of structural failure. It was a onesided verdict which left many issues unaddressed and questions unanswered,” SCOAN said.

The church also asserted that the verdict of the coroner did not refer to the CCTV footage which showed the 6-storey building falling in less than four seconds, a manner it said was consistent with controlled or externally induced demolition, “nor did it refer to the interim report and investigation by the Police, which pointed to sabotage by external forces.”

Ambode inspects state’s television, promises turnaround

L

AGOS State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday, paid an unscheduled visit to the Lagos Television (LTV) 8 Studios in Agidingbi, Ikeja where he made a pledge to give all the necessary support to upgrade it to a world class broadcast station.

The governor, who arrived at the station at about 9am in company of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Paul Bamgbose-Martins, said that the station has the potentials to compete with the best TV stations in the world.

Governor Ambode, who was conducted round the TV station by the Director of Programmes, Mr. Deji Balogun and Director of Finance, Lawrence Ojo, also inspected the facilities in the various studios, promising to digitalize the station and support it to become the best station in Nigeria.

He recommended that the station review and improve their programming, while the aesthetics of the studios should be improved upon.

The governor also frowned at the use of the company ’s premises for other commercial activities other than television production.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 11

IMPEACHMENT: Thugs launch fresh attack on anti-Aregbesola crowd

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—TWO days after hoodlums suspected to be sympathetic to the All Progressives Congress, APC allegedly unleashed terror on antiAregbesola’s protesters in Osogbo, some residents of the state capital were again yesterday attacked over an alleged opposition stance against the governor.

The fresh attack took place at a popular news-stand, Makson Junction, opposite old Governor’s Office in Osogbo with several innocent people sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The thugs numbering about 25 stormed the place in six minibuses and with all kinds of arms such as guns, axes and cudgels started chasing and beating up anyone at sight.

The attacks were linked to those sympathetic to Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the game of wits between the government and a serving judge, When contacted, APC director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi said the party has decided not to comment on the issue.

Also, Aregbesola’s Director of media and publicity, Mr Semiu Okanlawon refused to pick several calls put across to him for his comment. He also refused to reply the text message.

According to one of the victims of yesterday’s attack, a vendor, Mr Kazeem Madamidola, the hoodlums accused people around the area of being anti-Aregbesola and that those gathering to read newspapers at the news-stand were said to be speaking against the governor.

“The thugs pulled down my news-stand, tore all the newspapers and started beating people up. They accused them of booing Aregbesola during the rally on Tuesday and threatened that by today, they will kill anyone who comes around here”, he said.

Meantime, the Civil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State, CSCEO, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call Aregbesola to order, saying

the governor ’s plan was to create an atmosphere of fear in the state.

The group condemned the fresh attack by the APC thugs on innocent citizens of the state as unwarranted, sad and barbaric.

The group’s Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman stated, “We condemn this unprovoked attack because attacking innocent citizens of our

state cannot solve the problems on ground. This is democracy and every Nigerian has the right to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution.

“The whole world is aware of Aregbesola’s unpopularity in the state. His plan is to keep peoples’ mouths shut and create an atmosphere of fear so as to put us in perpetual bondage.

He warned Aregbesola to desist

VISIT: From left; Senior Special Assistant, SSA Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Executive Secretary, NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo; DG, SMEDAN, Mallam Bature Masari and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele at the State House, Abuja during the CBN governors visit, yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

Iyaloja of Ijebuland, Elewuju assassinated in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—TRAGEDY struck in Ijebu-Ode as unknown assailants reportedly hacked the Iyaloja-General of Ijebuland, Alhaja Sadiat Elewuju to death.

The deceased, 82, was reportedly attacked by six unidentified men at her residence in Sabo-Molode area of IjebuOde in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of the state at about 3.00pm.

Vanguard gathered that, the attackers inflicted several

machete cuts on her and left her in the pool of her blood.

Attempt by some members of her family to rescue her proved abortive as she reportedly died in hospital.

According to a source, the woman was rushed to three hospitals including Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching hospital and Lagos State Teaching hospital before she gave up the ghost.

When contacted, the Ogun State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that

ABORTED PRIMARIES: Oyo PDP aspirants demand refund

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN – AS part of its efforts to prevent future electoral defeat in Oyo State, some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state have said one of the solutions is to refund the money that the party collected from aspirants since no primary was held to pick the party ’s candidates for the last election.

Also, they want the party to

from his despotic rule and face the enormous challenges before the state while calling on the state House of Assembly to intensify its probe of Aregbesola’s government.

Sulaiman called on security agencies to brace up and ensure that those “perpetrating trouble and engaging in these violence are apprehended and brought to book”.

woo back former governors and other aggrieved chieftains who have left the party.

Among the chieftains that the leaders are calling for their return to the PDP fold are Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala and Mr. Seyi Makinde.

This came just as a group demanded for a new PDP that would make internal democracy as its treasured jewel.

These were part of the

suggestions given to the Emeka Ihedioha-led PDP Post-Election Review sub-committee which ended its two-day fact finding mission in Ibadan yesterday.

The committee is saddled with the responsibility of finding the factors that caused the loss of the party in the last election.

In addition, the PDP members expressed their discomfort in the choice of Uche Secondus as acting national chairman of the party.

suspected assailants macheted the woman to death.

Adejobi said,”She was attacked by suspected assailants and found in the pool of her blood.

Someone informed the police, we rushed down to the area, we found mama in the pool of her blood. She was taken to hospital in Sagamu for treatment. She was later referred to another hospital in Lagos, where she was confirmed dead.

“The command will do the needful to make sure we get those culprits apprehended and brought to book.

“The commissioner of police, Abdulmajid Ali, will visit the scene , visit the family, visit Ijebu town so that we will be able to restrategize and make sure there is proper security in Ijebu-Ode and do proper investigation into the matter. We assure the good people of the state that we are going to get those who perpetrated the act.

“We want to commiserate with the family of the deceased, we want to commiserate with the people of Ijebu-Ode, and the Iyaloja community in Ogun State generally; we want to assure them that the police would definitely make sure that these culprits are brought to book.''

Ondo committed to regular immunisation — MIMIKO

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—ONDO State government yesterday said it is commitmented to routine immunization exercise for mothers and children in order to eradicate polio diseases in the state.

The state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said in Akure that the government would continue to partner with health organization and other relevant stake holders towards eradicating polio in the state.

Speaking through his deputy Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, the governor during a meeting with members of the state task force on polio eradication said the government has invested heavily in the health sector because of its peculiarity.

According to him, the present administration in the state would not relent in its efforts in the health sector saying the government would continue to work towards eradicating communicable and non-communicable diseases in the state.

New Ogun CP resumes, assures of security

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — T H E new Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Abdulmajeed Ali, yesterday resumed office, assuring people of the state of security of lives and property.

Ali took over from Valentine Ntomchukwu, who assumed office in February this year.

The new Commissioner of Police, who arrived the state Police headquarters of the command at Eleweran at 11:55am, inspected the guard of honour mounted for him.

He later went straight to the office of the commissioner of Police and held a closeddoor meeting with his predecessor who handed over the command to him.

Shortly after the former commissioner of Police left the command, Ali held a meeting with all the officers in the command and sounded a note of warning against indiscipline.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Ex-Bayelsa SSG lauds Buhari on soldiers' withdrawal from road blocks

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—FORMER Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Steve Azaiki, yesterday, hailed the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw soldiers from road blocks across the country.

The decision, according to the former Bayelsa State government scribe, will save the military from ridicule and disrespect from Nigerians.

Azaiki said though the decision was sudden and should have been carried out after provision of needed logistics to the Nigerian Police, it was not responsible for resurgence of insecurity in the country.

He spoke in Yenagoa during the unveiling of his new book titled Thoughts on Nigeria: Speeches, Letters and Essay.

Azaiki said that the withdrawal of the soldiers by Mr. President was apt and would promote professionalism in the Nigerian Army.

He said: “The decision will assert the needed confidence and respect in the Nigerian military.

Maybe, as a former military man, he (Buhari) was crying inside on how the military was misused and he decided that we needed to give

respect to the military as an institution.

“On the criticism that trailed the decision, maybe the President should have explained to Nigerians why the military was withdrawn. In Nigeria, it is sometimes difficult to carry people along.

“Let us assume that the decision

is welcomed, the administration should have restored the confidence of the people with detailed explanation on how the Nigeria` Police will be empowered to assume the role of the military on the highways and restore confidence on security issues.”

On the handover note by

former President Goodluck Jonathan and the claims of empty treasury, Azaiki, noted with concern the position presented by President Buhari, saying “The administration of President Buhari should have studied the hand over note and set up a shadow cabinet to study and proffer the way forward."

PUBLIC PRESENTATION: From right: Justice Stella Ogene, President Coustomary Court of Appeal, Delta State; Chief Patrick Ideh, representative of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Mr. Elo Adhekpukoli, author of the book and Dr. Chris Ekiyo, former Commissioner, Delta State, during the public presentation and unveiling of Energy Security in Nigeria's Gas Sector, in Asaba, yesterday. Photo by Nath Onojake.

Quash Okowa's DESOPADEC amendment bill, Ijaw youths urge DTHA

By Akpokona Omafuaire

W

ARRI—DELTA Ijaw Oil P r o d u c i n g Communities Youths Assembly, DIOPCYA, has called on Delta State House of Assembly to quash the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC Amendment Bill 2015, sponsored by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

DIOPCYA, in a statement yesterday, in Warri, by Jackson Timiyan and Joel Tonjoh, National Coordinator and National Publicity Secretary respectively, described the DESOPADEC Amendment Bill 2015 as inimical to the principles of derivation.

They also described it as a display of wickedness, and an act of inhumanity to the oil and gas producing communities in Delta State.

The group vowed not to fold its hands and watch the bill scale through in the state House of Assembly, just as it tagged the bill as anti-people.

“It is clearly an attempt to rip off the funds of the 13 percent derivation fund given to the oil and gas producing communities in the state through DESOPADEC by

generalising and ethnicising the commission for ulterior motives, which will further impoverish, marginalise and deprive the oil and gas

producing communities of their God-given wealth,” the group said.

Pledging its support for the SMART agenda of the

governor, the group urged the Okowa administration to rely solely on the principle of derivation as regards oil and gas producing areas.

A-Ibom Assembly dissolves LG councils

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—AKWA Ibom State House of Assembly, yesterday, dissolved the local government councils in the state.

The dissolution of the councils followed a motion by the Leader of the House and member representing Oruk Anam state constituency, Mr Udo Akpan, who informed the House that the tenure of elected chairmen and councillors would elapse yesterday and therefore, should be dissolved pending a directive from the state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel.

Members of the Assembly, in their deliberations, were unanimous on the motion to dissolve the leaderships of the councils.

The House agreed that it was expedient to put up what would take place on the exit of the councils' leaderships.

They also pointed out that since no new council officials had been

elected, the outgoing council leaderships should be directed to hand over all council documents and property to the Head of Service of the state pending any directive that would be received from the governor on the issue.

Some of the lawmakers noted that since the constitution does

not provide for the elongation of the tenure of council leadership, that it became necessary to dissolve the councils.

The Speaker, Aniekan Uko, subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Mandu Umoren, to forward the resolution of the House to the executive immediately for further action.

Buhari, Okowa lauded on exemplary leadership

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's leadership style has been rated as exemplary so far in his administration of the country, amidst criticism in some quarters that he is acting rather slowly.

President, Isoko National Youths Assembly, INYA, Comrade Victor Egbo, who gave the impression in a chat

with newsmen in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, also expressed faith in Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration to advance the fortunes of Delta State.

Egbo, in an appraisal on the new administrations at the federal and state levels in Nigeria, urged the citizenry to display maximum understanding with both Buhari and Okowa in the light of the high expectations the people have placed on them.

Rivers Poly renamed after Ken Sarowiwa

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has renamed Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori. It is now to be known as Kenule Beeson Sarowiwa Polytechnic.

Sarowiwa was a former president, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP and a celebrated environmentalist and writer from Ogoni.

He was executed alongside eight others on November 9, 1995 after a controversial verdict by a tribunal set up by former Head of state, General Sani Abacha.

A statement by media aide to Governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Opunabo NkoTariah, said the move by the state government was to honour the achievements and legacies of one of the Ogoni martyrs.

Look inward for solution to Nigeria’s problems — Group tasks Buhari

M

OVE on Nigeria a political action group that promotes democracy and good governance has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to look inwards to the solution of Nigeria’s problems instead of running to the West with a wish list that doesn’t come free at the end of the day.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator Mr. Clem Aguiyi the group warned that the West will always put their national interest first while looking for African leaders that will serve their interests and whom they will use and dump.

The Group also faulted the claim by the Federal Government that it is giving so-called bail-out to insolvent states in Nigeria to help them pay workers’ salaries describing it as spurious.

It argued that what the government called a BailOut was an entitlement to the states from a combination of money left by the previous administration in the Excess Crude Account and that which recently accrued to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—13

Rivers gov poll: Wike loses bid to stop inspection of election materials

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, failed to persuade the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, to reverse the order it made on June 11, which granted All Progressives Congress, APC, leave to inspect the election materials used for the April 11 governorship election in the state.

In its ruling, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Muazu Pindiga, declined to vacate the ex-parte order, stressing that it was not made against Wike, but directed at Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which he said has the constitutional powers to keep the materials in its custody.

The tribunal consequently dismissed Wike’s objection and gave both the APC and its governorship candidate at the poll, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, who are the petitioners, the go ahead to scrutinise the election materials.

According to the tribunal, “Our order of June 11, 2015,

was made against INEC to allow the petitioner access to inspect and obtain a Certified True Copy, CTC, of all documents and materials used in the conduct of the governorship election in

Rivers State, 2015, and we so hold.

“Therefore, in compliance with Section 151 of the Electoral Act, our order still stands.”

It will be recalled that the

petitioners had, at the last adjourned date, accused INEC of conniving with Wike to frustrate its effort to inspect the materials that were used for the conduct of the governorship election.

LAUNCHING: From left: ATED Manager, PIND, Nancy Gilbert; Dennis Flemming, Executive Director; Prof. Femi Ajibola; Sam Daibo, PIND Executive Director, Heater Kulp, Assistant Executive Director, PIND, during the launch of the ATED Centre of PIND at Ugbokodo-Itsekiri.

Alleged secret sale of oil reser ves: Bayelsa communities, Shell dialogue deadlocked

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE meeting between Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and Nembe communities in Bayelsa State, over the alleged sale of oil and gas reserves from the area without the involvement of indigenes of the communities, has been deadlocked.

It was gathered that the meeting, called at the instance of Shell following last month's invasion and shutting of oil facilities along the Nembe creek I and II in Nembe Local Government Area of the state, could not agree on the communities' demand for 15 percent equity share and participation in the sales and proceeds of the oil reserves in the wake of the company's divestment.

SPDC was reportedly represented at the meeting by Mr. Ayo Rowland, Chibuzor Ayam (Head, SWEAMP) and James Abula.

While the company, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited, involved in the acquisition of SPDC’s 30 per cent stake in the oil mining lease (OML) 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk line, NCTL, under the latest Shell’s divestment policy of empowering indigenous oil companies, was C M Y K

represented by Bob Ekwuribe.

The host communities of Nembe Kingdom were represented at the meeting by Navy Captain Walter Feghabor-Amain (retd) (Chairman, Contact Committee), the Chairman of the Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Awakai Gam-Dede, the Chairman of Nembe Oil and Gas Committee,

Chief Nengi James and the former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Bright Erewari.

A source close to the meeting, yesterday, confirmed that the deliberation was held under tensed atmosphere with the community demanding equity participation and other demands.

“It was agreed that the delegation should get back to their bosses that the people of Nembe have resolved to give them two weeks more to deliberate on the outcome. The community demanded for 20 per cent equity participation amongst others claims earlier stated,” the source said.

Alleged N19.2bn fraud: Sylva challenges fresh 50-count charge

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—FORMER Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva, yesterday, challenged the fresh 50-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Sylva, through his counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to entertain the charge which he said was bereft of substance.

He urged the trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, to hands-off the matter, even as he accused the anti-graft agency of engaging in flagrant abuse of the judicial process by re-filing the charge which he said was predicated on the same material facts, evidence and circumstance as the

previous one that was dismissed by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same court.

Sylva is, in the charge, alleged to have connived with three others, Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun and Samuel Ogbuku, to siphon over N19.2 billion from the Bayelsa State treasury between 2009 and 2012.

Three companies that were allegedly used to perpetuate the fraud, Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited, were equally joined as defendants in the matter.

It will be recalled that Justice Mohammed had on June 10, dismissed an earlier 42-count charge against Sylva on the ground that the EFCC was prosecuting him before two different courts on the same

facts.

Meantime, when the fresh charge was called up yesterday, both Sylva and the other accused persons insisted that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to try them.

They argued that a case earlier dismissed by the same high court could not be resuscitated.

Delta gov poll: Tribunal grants Emerhor time to file information

By Festus Ahon

A

S A B A — CHAIRMAN of the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gumi, yesterday, granted the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, extension of time within which to file answers to pre-hearing information in sheet TF 008.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the first respondent, had earlier urged the tribunal not to grant the petitioners extension of time, arguing that the tribunal lacked such powers as it was prohibited by paragraph 18(4) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act. APC counsel, Chief Thompson Okpoko, SAN, had at the prehearing, urged the tribunal to grant his client an extension of time as paragraph 45(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act grants the tribunal such powers.

But Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, counsel to Okowa, insisted that even if the tribunal had such powers or discretion, it cannot grant the instant application since no material had been placed before the tribunal to justify the exercise of that discretion.

Justice Gumi in his ruling, held that paragraphs 45(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act grants the tribunal such powers, adding, “This paragraph gives the tribunal ample discretion in cases of default in filing answers to default pre-hearing information sheet as is the case at hand."

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

OKOWA @ 56: Ika leaders

donate to orphanages

P

OLITICAL AND community leaders in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State have made a donation of various food items and cash to inmates of the orphanage homes as well as the less privileged in the council area in commemoration of Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s 56th birthday.

Making the donation, the leaders headed by the member representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Elekeokuri and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman of the local government, Chief Godwin Ogadi said the gesture was inline with the directives of

the governor that instead of spending huge sums of money to place adverts in the media to commemorate his birthday, such could be used to uplift the lives of the less privileged.

Items donated include gallons of palm oil and groundnut oil, tin tomatoes, toiletries, bags of rice and beverages which were distributed to Our Savior orphanage, Umunede, Job’s orphanage, Agbor and that of Victoria Okowa orphanage home.

Other members of the team who visited the orphanages include the wife of the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Mrs. Veronica Efeizornor, Mr. Sebastine Okoh, Dame Patience Iyasere and Sylvester Azubuike, among others.

CONFERENCE: From left, Rt. Rev Dr. Alexander Ibezim, Anglican Bishop of Awka; HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha; Chief Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra State; Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka, and Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, President General, AMATAS, addressing a press conference, at the Governor's Lodge Awka, after a closed door meeting with a delegation from The Presidency on the controversial transfer of Boko Haram inmates to Ekwulobia

FRAUD: Orosanye returns to EFCC today Plan your Zakatul-Fitr and Zakah

Z

AKAT IS simply the calculation of your dues on your assets and the fourth pillar of Islam, while ZakatulFitr’s scope and implication transcend what we must do in the case of the former. However, we should remember that Zakat becomes due, one year after a person’s wealth reaches the value of Nisab (minimum amount paid). The Nisab as at now is N711,000. According to most scholars, a Muslim’s wealth has to remain above that Nisab level throughout the course of the year. This means he must be free from all indebtedness and liabilities. Again, it is done annually at a predetermined period. If one chooses to pay it in every Muharram or every Zhul-Qada, so be it.

So, it is impossible for the whole Ummah to have reached the obligation of paying Zakah, at the beginning or end of Ramadan. We should be clear in our minds that this type of Zakah is not tied to the month of Ramadan. But paying it in Ramadan is more rewarding. An individual can bring forward his Zakah due date, in order to take advantage of the multiple blessings of Ramadan. In fact, to make it easy on the recipients whose needs have to be met, one might chose Ramadan for the extra Sadaqah he gives out.

Zakatul-Fitr however is done with staple food consumable in a particular area. In this part of the world, grains such as rice, garri, beans etc are given as Zakat or its money equivalent. Every free Muslim must pay Zakatul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and all his dependants. It is only obligatory for those who have more than what is required to give as zakat-ul-fitr. A Muslim traveller is also enjoined to pay his zakat where he spends the last two days of Ramadan. If a person dies before Maghrib on the last day of Ramadan, Zakatul-Fitr would not be obligatory upon him even if he had fasted all the other days of the month, but if a child is born after Maghrib on the last day of Ramadan, it would be obligatory to pay Zakatul-Fitr on his or her behalf. Some scholars even noted that zakat should be paid on the foetus of a baby in the womb of the mother. A man must pay on a wife whose divorce is not yet concluded. If you have more than one bowl of staple food in your house, then it is obligatory upon you to give others who don’t have.

In essence, the rationale behind it is to make those who don’t have happy during the festive period. It also purifies the fasting Muslim from any shortcoming during the fast.

And since every Muslim needs this, it is therefore obligatory on him whether rich or poor. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Make them (i.e. the poor and destitute) rich on the day of `Eid-ul-Fitri. Put succinctly, for anyone who has more than a bowl of staple food or excess of what he can take for a day at home is qualified to give fitrah to the poor and needy to make a happy celebration for all.

“The Zakah are only for the poor, and the needy and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.” Q9:60.

You may also start from a day before the ‘Eid but before the eid prayer.

Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are All-Forgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me).”

C M Y K

zEverything points to arraignment — EFCC official

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

BUJA — FORMER Head of Service of the Federation, HoSF, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, yesterday, returned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s custody ahead of possible arraignment.

Oronsaye was arrested and detained by operatives of the anti-graft agency, Wednesday, but released late night and asked to turn in himself, yesterday.

Vanguard learnt that Oronsaye was, however, asked to go home at about 6p.m., yesterday, and asked to report back to the commission today.

funds, Oronsaye is being investigated over allegations by top Federal Government officials that he used his position as the chairman of the Presidential Standing Committee on Financial Action Taskforce to fleece the government.

The anti-graft agency source said: “Oronsaye is also being interrogated on fresh allegations of monumental fraud and embezzlement of funds in the running of a Presidential Standing Committee on Financial Action Taskforce, which he chairs.

“The committee is a policy advisory body to the President on the implementation of the AML/ CFT. Oronsaye allegedly used it as a conduit to siphon and launder money.

“This fresh lead is triggered by allegations by some members of the committee who claim that steel pipes, wire rods, iron rods and Oronsaye operated an illegal account in a first reinforced bars and steel nails.

Also in the list are plywood boards, generation bank in the name wooden doors, furniture, toothpicks, glass committee’s and glass wares, kitchen utensils, textiles, without the knowledge of plastic products, soap and cosmetics, the members through tomatoes/ tomatoe pastes among others. which he has laundered CBN stated that the exclusion of the hundreds of millions of items was necessary to sustain the stability naira.” of the foreign exchange market and ensure The renowned the efficient utilization of foreign exchange bureaucrat has earlier and the derivation of optimum benefit from been questioned in goods and services imported into Nigeria. relation to the September It added that the implementation of the 2014 damning 169-page policy will help conserve foreign reserves report by the office of the as well as facilitate the resuscitation of Auditor General of the domestic industries and improve Federation claiming that employment generation The apex bank also stated that the Oronsaye mismanaged importation of these items are not banned, over N123 billion during thus importers wishing to import these his tenure as HoSF. The report, entitled items shall do so using their own funds “Special Audit of the without any recourse to the Nigerian Accounts of the Civil foreign exchange markets.

The analysts at FSDH are of the opinion Pensions,” found Mr. that if the policy is effectively implemented, Oronsaye guilty of the total manufacturing industry will allegedly presiding over receive a boost, the foreign reserve would the looting of the nation’s rise and may have a positive impact on resources during his employment generation in the long run. tenure.

A top official in the commission confirmed to Vanguard that the former top civil servant had been taken in, yesterday, and that every indication pointed to the fact that he would be formally charged before an Abuja Federal High Court.

The official said: “Yes, Mr. Oronsaye is with our operatives preparatory to his arraignment. He was allowed to go yesterday after spending a long time and making useful statement to us. He was ordered to return to our investigators today and he reported around 10a.m. today (yesterday)” It was not clear if he would be arraigned today or not.

Vanguard learnt that apart from being associated with the mismanagement of huge pensions

CBN’s new forex policy to yield $16.4bn

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

L

AGOS— THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may be saving the economy about $16.4 billion or N3.24 trillion from the new foreign exchange policy it introduced last week.

The amount represents the value of the 41 items which new forex policy had eliminated from all the major forex windows.

According to the economic research report of FSDH Merchant Bank Plc, the sections of the product lines eliminated by this policy represent about 37.29 per cent of the manufacturing sector Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It also represents about 50.62 per cent of the total foreign exchange sold at the CBN window in 2014.

Some of the items declared not eligible for the forex window includes rice, cement, margarine, palm kernel/palm oil products, vegetable oil, meat and processed meats products, poultry (chicken, eggs, turkey).

Others are private airplane/jet, fish and tinned fish, cold rolled steel sheets, galvanized steel sheets, roofing sheets, metal boxes and containers, enalwares,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

ALLEGED $2.3M FRAUD: Ohakim secures N270m bail

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—FORMER Governor of Imo State, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, who was on Wednesday, remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he was arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over money laundering charge, yesterday, regained his freedom.

Trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi granted Ohakim bail to the tune of N270million.

Ohakim who was Imo state governor between May 2007 and May 2011 is answering to a threecount criminal charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

He was alleged to have looted the sum of $2.290m from the state treasury and used same to acquire a mansion at the Asokoro District of Abuja.

Shortly after he pleaded not guilty to the charge on Wednesday, his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, made an oral application for his release on bail, a prayer that was turned down by the court.

Justice Adeniyi directed the accused person to file a formal bail application, even as the matter was adjourned till yesterday.

At the resumed sitting on the

C M Y K

case yesterday, Ohakim, via a 10paragraphed affidavit that was deposed to by his wife, Chioma, begged the court to allow him to go home, saying he would be available to face his trial.

His bail request was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel Mr. Festus Keyamo, who however urged the court to okay accelerated hearing on the matter.

Ruling on the application, Justice Adeniyi placed reliance on the decided case laws in Abiola vs FRN, Asari Dokubo vs FRN, as well as that of Uwazuruike vs FRN, and held that the offence against Ohakim is bailable.

According to Justice Adeniyi, in granting bail to an accused person, the court must consider the nature of the charge, strength of the evidence, gravity of punishment in event of conviction, previous criminal record of the accused, the possibility of the accused not submitting himself for trial, likelihood that he will interfere with witnesses or evidence as well as the likelihood that he will commit another offence.

“This court has perused all the processes and exhibits filed by the parties. The essence of bail is for an accused to attend his trial. Secondly, under section 35 of the constitution, an accused is presumed innocent until proven

guilty.

“The offences concerned are bailable. I further refer to affidavit of completion of investigation sworn to by the EFCC. “Therefore, this court will exercise its discretion in favour of the accused. Accordingly, the accused is granted bail in the sum of N270million with one surety who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court”.

According to the court, the surety must be an owner of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the high court and must tender the title deed of such property to the Deputy Chief Registrar, DCR, of the court for verification.

In the alternative, Justice Adeniyi held that such surety could depose to an affidavit of means before the DCR of the court in charge of litigation.

More so, Ohakim was ordered to surrender his international

passport to the court, pending the hearing and determination of the charge against him.

Further hearing on the case was yesterday adjourned till October 20.

Specifically, two of the charges against Ohakim read: “That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the month of November, 2008 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made a cash payment of $2,290,000.00(Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand Dollars) which was then an equivalent of about N270,000,000.00(Two Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) for the purchase of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, also known as NO. 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja, which amount exceeded the amount authorised for an individual by section 1 of the

Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2004, and thereby committed an offence contrary to the said section and punishable by section 15(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

“That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 26th of January, 2013, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, while under arrest for an offence under the

EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, knowingly failed to make a full disclosure of your assets by not declaring your ownership of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, also known as NO. 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 27(3) (c) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.”

Police arrest masquerade in Enugu for stabbing priest

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU—MEN of Enugu Police Command have arrested three persons in Enugu, who allegedly stabbed an Anglican priest after beating him, under the cover of playing masquerade.

The reason for the attack was yet to be ascertained but the

state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident said the three persons and the masquerade regalia are currently in police custody for interrogation.

According to the PPRO, “operatives of Igboeze North Division of Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police

have nabbed three suspects (names withheld), all of Igogoro, Enugu Ezike, IgboEze North Local Government Area of Enugu State for allegedly conspiring to beat and stab one Reverend Christian Ajibo, an Anglican priest, last Thursday with a dagger on the right side of his chest."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —17

A Class Act

P

ROFESSOR Attahiru Jega had been a distinguished Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, BUK, for five years when ex-President Goodluck Jonathan hired him to chair the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in 2010.

He completed his INEC tenure last week and then quietly – without drawing attention to himself - went back to BUK at the beginning of this week, to take up a post as a Political Science lecturer…and was respectfully received by the current Vice-Chancellor and the Head of the Political Science Department.

Now that’s what I call a Class Act and well brought-up gentleman!

Being in charge of elections in the Giant of Africa is a major gig; and Jega has been a superstar on the national and international stages for half a decade.

He has wielded vast amounts of power. He has managed multi-billion naira budgets. He has been the Oga of hundreds of thousands of employees. During the recent elections, INEC employed 50,000 ad hoc staff in Lagos alone.

Desperate aspirants and candidates galore have begged Jega for support. Foreign and Nigerian journalists have regularly hassled him to grant interviews.

Ambassadors from distant shores have gone out of their way to meet him.

All sorts of august organisations, both here and abroad, have invited him to give speeches. And he will go down in history as a courageous champion of democracy who dispassionately umpired the first-ever Nigerian election in which an incumbent has been defeated. He has become an unforgettable house-

C M Y K

Prof. Attahiru Jega hold name.

The sky is now his limit and he could easily have stayed put in Abuja, enjoying the warm glow of celebrity…OR spread his wings and jetted off to a sophisticated and comfortable overseas location to do a fancy job at a famous worldclass educational institution or

I salute Professor Jega’s heroic patriotism and greatly admire his unmaterialistic humility, which is especially commendable in a country that is obsessed with status, rank and wealth

at the United Nations or wherever.

But he has chosen, instead, to return to his roots and share his formidable intellect and the practical experience he has gained via INEC with young students in the very modest city of Kano…AND chosen to dedicate himself to a low-profile academic environment for the foreseeable future…AND chosen to serve under people who were probably his juniors when he was a Vice-Chancellor.

And I’m pretty sure that the salary and perks are nothing to write home about!

I salute Professor Jega’s heroic patriotism and greatly admire his unmaterialistic humility, which is especially commendable in a country that is obsessed with status, rank and wealth…and full of former senior government officials who hang around in Abuja, constantly lobbying to get juicy new Federal appointments, because – having tasted life at the top – they’d rather not come back down to earth and revert to their previous “ordinary” occupations.

The other day, I was chatting to a friend who runs a parastatal and is very depressed because he was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and strongly suspects that President Muhammadu Buhari will remove him in the near future.

It was clear that he would be utterly miserable if his tenure

was not renewed. And I reminded him that he had been a successful engineer before he got the parastatal job…and pointed out that it would not be a big deal if the President sacked him because he could easily revert to being a successful engineer.

He looked at me as if I was mad! And yet, he had been happy as an engineer. Sadly, being in government had made him lose interest in his real profession.

Wanting to stay at the top and in the spotlight is human, understandable and not a crime. Our VIPs enjoy extremely pampered existences; and it’s normal to miss the flattering attention and myriad advantages when the party ends.

But it’s good to be capable of cheerfully living without the pampering!

Life is like a pyramid, in the sense that there is much less

room at the top than there is in the middle or at the bottom.

And very few can stay at the top ad infinitum; so it’s best to adopt a nonchalant attitude towards appointments.

I’ve never been at the top.

But I used to be a Ministerial aide, so I know what it is like to be mollycoddled; and I must confess that I thoroughly enjoyed the reflected glory – people are so nice to you when you are working for a dignitary! – and that I loved benefits like being met at airports by eager-to-please protocol guys and never having to worry about stuff like paying my hotel bills.

But when it was time to leave the Ministry with my Boss and say goodbye to the multiple privileges that were attached to the Special Assistant role, I shrugged philosophically and reverted to my “real” job – journalism – without regrets.

Mugabe’s joke

P

RESIDENT Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe cracked an absolutely hilarious joke a few days ago. Reacting to the American Supreme Court’s recent blanket legalization of same-sex marriage, Mugabe said that he was thinking of travelling to Washington DC to propose to President Barack Obama!

I personally do not share Mugabe’s hatred of gay people. And while I’m not a great fan of the idea of samesex marriage – I think that gays should not mimic heterosexuals on every single level and should settle for civil partnerships - I know many gay people who have great personalities and would never hurt a fly.

And I have always felt that homosexuals and lesbians are born gay and should not be persecuted for sexual preferences they didn’t choose (why would anyone CHOOSE to be gay in a world that is still largely hostile towards gays?.

However, even though Mugabe was being sarcastic, it IS very amusing to imagine the spectacle of 91-year-old African man getting down on bended knee to ask for Obama’s hand in marriage!!!

•President Mugabe I nearly fell off my chair laughing.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 THE Presidency has emphasised its resolve to embrace dialogue with Boko Haram Islamist terrorist fighters if they agree to negotiate.

However, according to presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari will bargain with the jihadists “from the position of strength”.

It is true that in all wars, there must be a measure of dialogue between the contending forces before, during and after the conflict. Therefore, it is unrealistic to insist that we should not engage in any form of talks with the insurgents who, news sources claim, have killed over 600 innocent Nigerians within the last one month of Buhari’s advent in power.

During this period, we started seeing the same pattern of condemnations from the Presidency and other top officials of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which was a sad reminder of our experiences under former President Goodluck Jonathan before he acquired the necessary weapons to invade the Sambisa Forest abode of the terrorists.

We have always cautioned against putting

Before Dialogue With Terr orists errorists the banner of negotiating with Boko Haram ahead of their decisive military decapitation. Any further move to try and get them to the negotiation table while still pleading for mercy will definitely embolden them to dictate terms.

We have argued in the past that only when we defeat Boko Haram militarily can we set the stage for negotiation. At that stage, we will be negotiating to see what to do with those of them that can still be useful citizens. Our argument has been supported by two Maiduguri-based Islamic scholars.

Sheikh Musa Usman told a national daily that we must pay more attentions to

equipping the military to rout the militants rather than considering dialogue. His colleague, Goni Yahuza concurred, adding that calling for negotiation at this point is a sign of weakness.

During the presidential campaigns, Buhari had boasted that he would wipe out Boko Haram within one month. That time line has already passed. The only thing we have seen is the relocation of command headquarters to Maiduguri and President Buhari’s trips to foreign countries for a joint action against the terrorists.

There appears to be a lull on the military front, which accounts for the increased Boko Haram strikes. We want the federal government to act with greater decisiveness and put the insurgents on their heels. We want to hear less of condolence messages to victims from the Presidency and more of actions being taken to curtail the menace of the terrorists.

Nigerians elected Buhari because as a military officer with track records he was seen as the man to crush the insurgents.

He must get the job done first before we talk about negotiations and rehabilitation.

OPINION Okowa and his 12 Apostles

By Alex Akpodiete

R

ECENTLY, the Events Centre on Okpanam Road, in Asaba Delta State was filled to the brim and overflowing, as Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, swore-in 12 new Commissioners, ostensibly to help him actualise his five-point agenda, known as SMART and also generically referred to as Prosperity for all Deltans.

I am sure the governor has realised that the honeymoon period is over. Those of us who worked for his election want to see proofs in actions. We want to be reassured that we did not traverse the 25 Local Government Areas,LGAs, for nothing. As though he has read the minds of many supporters, the Governor immediately gave the newly appointed Commissioners their respective portfolios so that they can hit the ground running.

The newly sworn in Commissioners and their portfolios are: (1) Barr. Mrs. Mary Iyasere (Commerce and Industry); Hon. John Nani (Environment); Dr. Kingsley Emu (Economic Planning); Chief James Augoye (Works), Mr. Vincent Uduaghan (Transport); Mr. Newworld Safugha (Energy); Mr. Joseph Ogeh (Housing); Sir. Fidelis Tilije (Water Resources Development), Rev. Mrs. Omashola Williams (Women Affairs); Mr. Austin Chikezie (Agriculture and Natural Resources); Hon. Joyce Overah (Science C M Y K

and Technology) and Mr. Chiedu Ebie (Basic and Secondary Education).

In his speech after swearing in the Commissioners and Special Advisers, Okowa acknowledged that government is not a one man’s job, which means he needs helpers. Even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when he embarked on his mission here on earth, enlisted twelve Apostles. We hope the twelve Apostles will carry Okowa’s gospel of Prosperity for all Deltans to all the nooks and crannies of the State.

We also hope there will be no Judas amongst them, as the State cannot afford a betrayer at this time.

I will restate Okowa’s SMART agenda, which means, Strategic Wealth Creation Projects and Provision of Jobs for all Deltans; (2) Meaningful Peace Building Platforms aimed at Political and Social Harmony; (3) Agricultural Reforms and Accelerated Industrialisation; (4) Relevant Health and Education Policies; (5) Transformed Environment through Urban Renewal.

In my article some weeks ago titled, “How

We should start with ourselves individually, if we want change

Smart is Okowa’s SMART Agenda”, I stated that the Five-point agenda is clearly achievable. Although achievable, the right hands must be on the saddle.

The government has also started well with the new empowerment schemes. The six schemes rolled out by the governor in less than thirty days in office are as follows: (1.) Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP); (2.) Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP); (3). Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP); (3) Capacity building for farmers, youths and extension agents in partnership with Syngenta Company; (4). Tractorisation; (5).

Extension of Microcredit and Agricultural Loans; and (6). Development of Agroindustries. We hope as the forms are turned in (through traditional rulers, LGA Chairmen and House of Assembly members), there is no discrimination or mismanagement as Nigerians are prone to do with laudable projects.

Later in his ministry, Jesus Christ chose at least 70 other disciples and sent them out in twos. Governor Okowa also named three additional Special Advisers to be sworn-in at a later date, but swore-in the following Special Advisers: Bro. Emmanuel Ogidi (Rural Development and Peace Building); Sen. Emmanuel Aguariarvwodo (Infrastructure and Housing Development); Rt. Hon. Martins Okonta (Land Resources and Legislative Matters); Hon. Pascal Adigwe(National Assembly Matters and Intergovernmental Liaison) and Comrade Mike Okeme(Labour Relations).

We await the next batch of Commissioners and Special Advisers. However, our eagle eyes are focused on the current appointees.

We give the benefit of the doubt to the Governor about those he selected and the portfolio he decided to assign to each of them. In this first batch of Commissioners, there were some old faces that have been tested and tried, while there are a few new ones. No one can probably challenge the qualifications of someone like Dr. Kingsley Emu, who excelled in the private sector and was a former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry. Space will not permit me to decipher his curriculum vitae or that of the other appointees, but time will give us the wisdom of hindsight.

Nevertheless, we will not be exercising our civic duties if we do not watch these new appointees to make sure they either deliver or leave the kitchen which is already hot. To borrow Okowa’s own words, “it is no longer business as usual.”

We hold his excellency to his words. He has promised to prosecute any Judas (saboteur) in his administration and to curb corruption. Deltans should also know that government cannot do it alone. Do we have the courage to report corrupt practices to both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offenses Commission (ICPC)? A famous person once said that we should start with ourselves individually, if we want change.

*Rev. Akpodiete, a public affairs, wrote Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Come away, my brothers and sisters

C

OME away my brothers and sisters. Come away from those foreign cultures where men make a career of bachelorhood and women make a hobby of single parenthood. Where men are applauded, even by presidents for allegedly changing their sex, and pre-nuptial agreements ensure that marriage, where it occurs between a man and a woman, is no longer ‘Till-Death-Do-Us-Part’ What do we have to learn from people whose idea of the world, is one that is upside down? What can we learn from the craze of men being celebrated for marrying men, and women widely applauded for exchanging marital vows with other women? How are we expected to accept such culture as human rights when they violently assault our collective rights?

You know, my brothers and sisters, that in African culture, what goes on in the bedroom, remains there and is not a commodity for public consumption. Calling press conferences to announce a sexual orientation is part of the mercantilist culture of market

forces. Would a serious man make a public announcement that he is sleeping with a man when no cultured man would announce publicly that he sleeps with a woman? What has happened to privacy and decorum? If their gods decree that two men constitute a married couple and that polyandry is an acceptable practice, why must we be asked to either worship such gods or be sanctioned? What has aid got to do with it?

They preach the democracy of choice; why should individual choice over ride our collective choice? Why can’t they have their own choice and we ours?

History teaches that what is moral for a people, may be immoral to another; as they say in their zone; one man’s meat, is another man’s poison.

We concede that we are not as civilised as the Germans whose National Ethics Council says that incest is no crime. But to us, it is one of the most abominable acts on earth. If the Japanese courts rule that adultery is permissible for purposes of business, we have no right to overrule them. But for us,

adultery is no legitimate business and this they must respect. We do not want our children to have multiple fathers or our women to be public housewives in the name of business transactions. We know that the Constitutional Court of our brothers and sisters in South Africa ruled on June 19, 2015 that adultery is part of the right to Privacy and Freedom. But this is not African culture; it is a case that South Africa has kept, and is keeping bad company.

There are those in the civilised world who advocate that pedophiles should be treated like gays and lesbians because it is a sexual orientation for which they should neither be punished nor discriminated against. Soon they will start a campaign that kleptocracy is a medical condition and that stealing should no longer be a punishable crime.

Just as we marvel at their ways,

If their gods decree that two men constitute a married couple and that polyandry is an acceptable practice, why must we be asked to either worship such gods or be sanctioned?

IGR, a war against Nigerians

By Clement Udegbe

T

HE states in Nigeria have become used to collecting monthly allocations from the Federation Account, squander it and return for more since the past years.

From 1999, the Governors spend more time and energy plotting how to be more creative in collecting allocations, than growing their states’ economies.

Agriculture, mining, use of solid minerals, and manufacturing were relegated , for quick money from the centre, so much so, that today, a state governor, like in Edo State, can stand on a podium and start accusing the Finance Minister of spending money without approvals , while the beam in the eyes of his administration remain un- attended to.

We still remember that during the campaigns, we saw television adverts that listed their many sins including corrupt enrichment, and investments overseas, but now, hiding under the constitutional immunity of their offices, they enjoy the past time of distracting and diverting the attention of Nigerians by pointing fingers at the immediate past government, as if such an action will wipe away their sins before the eyes of discerning Nigerians.

Fact is, sooner or later, these men will have to be investiged if the fight against corruption will make any sense at all.

The governors recently went cap in hand to beg for bail out from President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, in order to meet their obligations. Their diversionary games seem to have worked on the President, and bail out has come, in the form of over N804 billion life line for them.

Hurray, salaries may be paid, and more lies told! They will at least continue with

C M Y K

their profligacy for the next tenure, before devising other means to rake in more money to continue in the vicious cycle of living as if money will get out of fashion!

Nigerians are bad followers. We suffer and keep smiling, while our oppressors continue to rip the states blind, borrow monies they have no business taking, pledging our future into indebtedness, and all we do is argue, depending on our ethnicity, religion, party affiliations, etc.

The problem is that bail out or no bail out, the governors have already declared a war against the citizens using the IGR. They will continue as if there was no bail out, to chase, harass and intimidate citizens all in the good name of IGR. For example, Rivers State Government last week, restated its commitment to

It was clear that after almost six years of APGA in Anambra State, they have no properly thought out means of IGR collection from the people

so do they about some of our practices. For instance, polygamy which Kenya has legalised is for them, a crime called bigamy. The argument whether polygamy is not better than their serial monogamy , is not an issue. Every people, with their culture.

So, we should not sit in moral judgment over them. The good book, says, judge not, and thou shall not be judged. So we concede to them their cultural preferences, but they should also concede ours. We do not seek to impose our ways on other people, but others should not seek to impose theirs on us.

They brought Christianity to us as the Way, saying he who is not for us, is against us. But while millions of us hold on to the cross, they have abandoned the church in droves, turning cathedrals into museums and social centres, and converting churches into offices and residential apartments. In contrast, we’re so religious, that we close down factories and warehouses and convert them into churches. Has it not been said that man shall not live by bread alone?

Whatever happens, we should not abandon the way to salvation just because those who converted us are doing so. Nor should we reject their positive values. But we must not be copycats; it is the foolish fly that follows the corpse into the grave.

Sisters and brothers, what we are witnessing, is the collapse of the family system in their society. Morals to them take a second place to expediency. With the rise of individualism above the collective, concepts of the collective like the family, lose their value at the market place while the stocks of the war industry over peace, and profit over human lives, rise.

shore-up the state’s internally generated revenue base.

The finance commissioner, said in a statement that the government’s resolve followed the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account, adding that the government would do everything possible to ensure that business owners and taxable citizens paid their taxes, and have evolved ways of strengthening their revenue drive to ensure compliance.

Meanwhile, the State Assembly has approved the borrowing of Billons of Naira by the same government.

In Imo State, they have concluded arrangments to prey on Keke-Na Pep and Okada riders. They sieze the machine, dump it in a place till the owner paid between N5000, and N10000 to be freed.

Same is the story in most States in the South.

The Anambra State drive for increased IGR is better imagined than experienced.

On Monday four days ago, I was riding in an Imo State registered commercial vehicle from Owerri to Onitsha in the morning hours, and just after Oba Junction, a group of 8 young men with very hard faces, swarmed on our vehicle, and tried to wrestle the car key from the driver in the traffic, but they could not because I was the only passenger in the car, and we had all doors pinned down.

At first I thought they were hooligans from their conduct, but when I noticed that they all wore T-Shits with IGR mark, I knew they were part of the hands of oppression used by Governor Obiano to wrestle money from the poor ones in the name of IGR. I introduced my self, screaming at the top of my voice, and observing my age, they piped low a little, and brought their leader, who turned out to be an Imo State indigene, and even related to me. I decided that we must go all the hog, as I needed to understand how this IGR thing worked in Anambra State.

We must admit that they are pluralistic societies and many do not accept the new humanism being created by their states and ruling elites. Russia that has been cast for ninety eight years as ‘godless’ rejects many parts of the new culture preferring the old marriage culture and family traditions.

What has happened to them was foretold. The Pan- Africanist, Franz Fanon in his famous 1961 book The Wretched Of The Earth told an emergent Africa: “Let us not lose time in useless laments or sickening mimicry” of Europe because that continent was “teetering between atomic destruction and spiritual disintegration” He warned Africans fifty four years ago “Let us decide not to imitate Europe…Two centuries ago, a former European colony took it into its head to catch up with Europe. It has been so successful that the United States of America has become a monster where the flaws, sickness and inhumanity of Europe have reached frightening proportions” Come away my brothers and sisters, we need to build a new human-centred society where the people, not profits, count. A society where democracy is not just the ritual of periodic elections, but the true participation of the electorate in governance. A society based on our time-tested values. Where the nucleus family is the woman and the man, and we remain our brother’s keeper by maintaining our extended family system.

Come away my sisters and brothers, we have better things to do.

We drove to their office, which was a ramshackle open batcher, in an extremely dirty environment, on a muddy soil covered with saw dusts, very close to the bridge head. There was nothing to give it credibility! The Chairman sat on a short make-shift form, and asked him what we must do to get registered. He announced that the charge was N25,000, for two stickers, one receipt and a wretched looking small plastic bucket, the task force charge was N10,000, but he would waive that because I did not argue with them.These things should not cost more than N5000 to produce! They had no POS machine for payment. Victims must pay cash, for them to collect their own commission at the end of each day. We drove to three banks before I got the money from an ATM machine, paid the N25,000, and left them.

It was clear that after almost six years of APGA in Anambra State, they have no properly thought out means of IGR collection from the people. They simply unleash touts on the poor commercial vehicle operators, and harass them into payment. There was no other team from Onitsha to Awka. So it was a matter of using an Imo son, to harass Imolites on that route. There was no bill board, or adverts on the road about IGR or any public enlightenment, as we heard nothing from their state radio throughout the six hours I spent in Onitsha that day.

If I was not in that vehicle, the driver would have been beaten, and taught a lesson of his life, according to one of them.

I kept wondering why our leaders take us for granted without any respect in Igbo land. Why not visit Lagos, and learn from that State government, than this shameful put up, in the name of IGR collection.

*Mr Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

— 21

World Bank asks other countries to emulate NDIC Target Fund Ratio

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

Responding, the NDIC’s Managing Director of NDIC, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its continuous support towards the Corporation’s capacity building initiative and effective discharge of its mandate.

He assured that the corporation would continue to welcome inputs from the global institution towards creating an atmosphere of confidence in the Nigerian banking industry.

TFRF is the ratio of fund that determines the optimal fund level that enables a deposit insurer to effectively meet its obligation to depositors. The International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) Core Principle 11 for Effective Deposit Insurance System, provides that the Fund Reserve Ratio should be based on clear, consistent and well developed criteria.

The development of the Target Fund Ratio by the Corporation was premised on the

T

HE World Bank has described the Target Fund Ratio Framework, TFRF, of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, as a model which should be emulated by other deposit insurance institutions across the globe.

Mr Julian Casal who led the World Bank technical team on a 4-day working visit to the corporation on a formal presentation of the Target Fund Ratio Framework and staff capacity building said that each deposit insurer needed a robust fund with which to meet demands of its mandate.

According to him, the NDIC’s TFRF was suitable in determining the adequacy of the Corporation’s Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) He said that the bank would adopt the document as a benchmark for other African deposit insurance Corporations.

PRODUCT LAUNCH: From right, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Access Bank

Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Vice President & Area Business Head, West Africa, MasterCard, Omokehinde Ojomuyide; Group Head, Channels Services, Access Bank, Segun Ogbonnewo, and Managing Director, Easy Taxi, Adaora Asala, during the launch of PayWithCapture, a new multi-banking payment solution by Access Bank in Lagos

recommendation at the end of an IADI international workshop on the “Methodology for Assessing Compliance with the IADI Core Principles for effective deposit insurance system which was hosted by the Corporation in 2011.

The Corporation was advised to comply with some Core

Principles, among which was Core Principle 11 on funding.

Consequently, the Corporation approached the World Bank for technical assistance towards the development of the Target Fund Ratio and the request was granted in 2014 under the World Bank Financial Sector Reform and Strengthen-

ing (FIRST) Initiative.

The World Bank team, comprising Messrs Julian Casal, Jan Philipp Nolte and John O’Keefe interacted with the NDIC staff from relevant departments with a view to clarifying the data and other issues considered in establishing the target fund ratio framework.

RMAFC seeks salary review for public office holders T

of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, made the call in Abuja.Mohammed recalled that the last time the commission reviewed the remuneration of public officers was in 2007 when President Umaru Yar’Adua directed that his salary as president should be slashed. “The commission as it was provided in the

he Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission yesterday stressed the need for review of salaries and allowances of public office holders to meet current economic realities facing Nigerians.

The Public Relations Officer

$123.10

0.20

$3,286. 00

-8. 00

$12. 37

0.04

NA TURAL $57.52 0.57 52.43 CURRENCY DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL SDR KRONA 28.8263

BUYING

0.10

CENTRAL

195.95 196.45 196.95 302.488 303.2599 304.0317 214.0362 214.5823 215.1285 206.198 206.7242 207.2503 1.6005 1.6046 1.6087 0.3097 0.3197 0.3297 273. 2231 273. 9203 274.6175 31.552 31.633 31.714 52.2492 52.3825 52.5158 273.3307 274.0281 274.7256 28.6799 28.7531

CBN Exchange Rate as at 09/ 07 /15

C M Y K

constitution has the mandate to review from time to time, salaries and allowances of political, public and judicial office holders in the country. The last time we had such exercise was in 2007 and now because of the changes in economic realities, we feel it is high time we do something again. In this regard, we have already sent out memoranda for input from the general public, including the media, civil society, academia, organised private sector and the three tiers of government.”

Mohammed urged

Nigerians to participate in the exercise.

“We want every Nigerian to take ownership of this review that is why we are seeking

citizens’ input into the review exercise. Nigerians should feel free to send their views on how the salaries and allowances should look like

to our office or through provided email addresses.

The commission will consider different factors in determining new wages for the affected officers.

Forex: We dont have power to ban imported goods - CBN

By Naomi Uzor

T

he Central Bank of Nige ria (CBN) yesterday said, it does not have the power to ban any imported product but do not have sufficient foreign exchange to finance goods that can be produced locally.

Disclosing this at the interactive forum on CBN Forex policy, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Director Monetary Policy; CBN, Mr. Moses Tule, said the CBN new policy is not made to ban any product but that it does not have sufficient funds to finance any product that can be produced locally here in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and we signed a treaty to it.

“The policy is aimed at building our local industries, creating jobs, reducing the pressure and demand for the foreign exchange,” he stated.

The policy is aimed at building our local industries, creating jobs, reducing the pressure and demand for the foreign exchange

He said clarification of the perceived ambiguity of some of the products restricted from accessing foreign exchange would be given by banks and that the CBN is not earning much foreign exchange from crude oil thus the need to manage the little that was available.

Tule said in the first five months of this year the sum of 575 million dollars was spent on the importation of wheat, while 374 million dollars was spent on fish and 349 million dollars on electrical and electronic appliances into the country.

“It would be wrong to continue with a policy that will keep impoverishing our farmers, local industries and growth of our economy, why will somebody be importing toothpicks or eggs, when we have it in abundance in Nigeria” Tule said.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Shareholders fret over demand for foreign loans by insurance companies S

Stories by Peter Egwuatu

HAREHOLDERS have called on National Insurance Commission, NAICOM to stop some of the Nigerian insurance companies who are in the habit of seeking foreign loans rather than looking inward.

The shareholders argued that incessant foreign loans by some of the insurance companies have negative impact on the balance sheet of companies and could jeopardise indigenous shareholders investments.

The shareholders under the aegis of Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PROSAN advised NAICOM to put eye on the activities of insurance companies as some of them are doing things that are not ethical.

In a statement addressed to the Commissioner of Insurance and obtained by Vanguard, PROSAN stated “In the last Annual General Meeting, AGM of AIICO Insurance Plc held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Monday 22nd June, 2015, we came up with the following observa-

This was how some insurance companies’ got approval from unsuspecting shareholders to obtain loans from Daewoo Corporation which remained unresolved till date

tions which we believe will help NAICOM to regulate our insurance companies to the best interest of the stakeholders, especially investors.”

In the statement signed by both PROSAN National Coordinator and General Secretary, Mr. Oderinde Taiwo and Mrs Oluyemisi Fawunmi , the Group commended NAIC OM for taken appropriate action on the dissolution and suspension of the Board and Management of International Energy Insurance Plc when it commitment fraudulent act.

According to the shareholders “First, one of the request that the Board of Directors of AIICO Insurance placed before the shareholders on page 12 of the annual report and accounts is the issue of fund raising and introduction of a strategic investor, International Finance Corporation. This was how some insurance companies’ got approval from unsuspecting shareholders to obtain loans from Daewoo Corporation which remained unresolved till date. We want NAICOM to prevent our insurance companies from accessing another round of foreign loans that will eventually put our investment in jeopardy.”

The Group further observed the unnecessary influence core investor and by extension, the Chairman of AIICO Insurance have on the company and called on the regulator to investigate the issue of the chairman bringing his family members to the Board.“We believe if this type of negative attitude is not discouraged it will eventually undermine good corporate governance and hinder the progress of this company” the Group noted.

AWARD: From left: Abubakar Suleiman, Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling

Bank Plc; Nwagwu Churchill, Lead Consultant, Spreadout Media Nigeria Limited; Kayode Lawal, Executive Director, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank Plc and Chudi Obiora, CEO, Minds Share Media Nigeria at the presentation of the Best Poster Award to Sterling Bank in the financial services sector by representative of OAAN, in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Members of W/African Securities Exchange collaborate to integrate capital market

M

EMBERS of West African Securities Exchange have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help integrate the ECOWAS Capital Market.

The Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, who disclosed this at a news conference, said that the members came together to form an association to help drive the purpose.

“And the only way we can do

this is to ensure that the regulators come together and the committee agrees to form the West Africa Security Regulators Association (WASRA),” he said. “ Within the East African countries, Kenya is doing quite well in driving their association and within the Arab countries and the Middle East they also have their associations doing well. “ Part of our own principle is to see that we can achieve a lot globally in terms of financial inclusion, financial liter-

Associated Discount House migrates to Finacle 10

By Emka Aginam

I

N a bid to improve efficiency and improve customer experience, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG ) has powered the successful migration of Associated Discount House banking services to Finacle 10 core banking application.

Finacle core banking solutions is designed to help financial institutions improve their business processes as well as defend them against systemic fraud.

The solutions provide a comprehensive, integrated, yet modular and agile approach to core banking that addresses banks’ sophisticated needs in easy-to-configure modules

that solve their unique problems while providing high-performance infrastructure that scales with their needs.

Speaking on the importance of the migration; Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, the Chief Executive Officer, Associated Discount House Ltd (Now approved for Merchant Banking Operation) observed that the migration was necessitated by the institution’s aim at providing a robust banking platform to drive its expanded suite of services and business operation as well as support its commitment to the achievement of excellent service delivery in the industry.

“To attain this objective, we

believe Finacle 10.2.16 which is currently the highest version of Finacle is a viable option relying on the strong support of Computer Warehouse Group Plc”, he explained.

For Mr. Austin Okere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, pointed out that business innovation is key for any institution to survive.

According to him, “In this age of aggressive competition, banks must concentrate on attracting new customers and retaining old ones using the tool of excellent service delivery as well as reduce their cost of operations. In offering Finacle 10 solutions, we have empowered ADH to do both.”

“With this upgrade, Associated Discount House Ltd now has the leverage upon which they can improve their business processes, handle high transaction volumes, manage ever-increasing customer expectations and boost their overall output at the same time.

It is indeed another unique opportunity for us to show the difference technology can make when integrated into day-to-day business process” he explained.

It would be recalled this development has added to CWG’s notable record of providing business enabling solutions and infrastructure to the financial sector over the past two decades.

acy, market development, crises management and enforcement.

“It is to make sure that the entire jurisdiction within a particular region comes together and share information, information is the key and what drives the market is information.

Gwarzo said that some of the agreements on the MoU were to harmonise their regulatory framework, manage risk in the capital market and monitor market development.

He said that the association would be chaired by Mr Mory Soumahoro, the Secretary General Counseil Regional De L’Epargne Publique Et Des Marchès Financiers (CREPMF).

On the financial implications for the member states, the director-general said that it would be looked into in order to ascertain the cost for each state.

He said that the chairman would head the association for two years after which the performance of the association would be accessed and another chairman elected.

In his remark, Soumahoro thanked the members for the confidence they had in electing him and he called on all the member states to support the association to achieve its aim.

The SEC Director General in Ghana, Dr Adu Antwi, said that he was optimistic that the association would achieve the aim of its establishment.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —23

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

For Nigerian ports, the next level is deepsea port — Suleiman Stories b Godwin Oritse

A

FORMER Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA), Engr Omar Suleiman has said that the robust historical culture in the authority has in no small way contributed to the smooth administrative system and consequently in an improved cargo delivery process.

Suleiman who headed the ports authority for about two years said that the port reforms programme embarked upon in 2006 has also impacted positively in the entire port operation process, adding that with a l efficient system, the nation’s seaports will gain the hub status for the West and Central African sub-regions.

In a chat with Vanguard, Sulieman recalled that said that port operations and development in Nigeria began in the middle of the 19th century and that efforts towards the provision of facilities for oceangoing vessels actually started with the opening of Lagos Lagoon in the early 1900.

He “The robust historical culture has also brought a healthy administration in the ports authority as each management takes a cue from its predecessor.

“The move to comcession the Nigerian ports was also borne out of the desire to make Nigeria hub for the West and Central African sub-regions and a total of 25 port terminals concessioned to private terminal operators with lease agreement ranging from 10-25 years.

“Prior to port concession, turnaround time for ships was too long and usually calculated in weeks, sometime months, depending on the cargo type.

“At a point, Nigerian seaports were rated as some of the costliest seaports in the world due to cost and efficient cargo clearing process.

“Therefore, in all its years, the 2006 port concession is arguably the real watershed in the history of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“Even though many options had been tried in the past, including commercialisation and even outright privatisation, it was the 2006 concession that gave Nigeria the new NPA that stakeholders are apparently proud of today.

“The port concession was a bold move to reposition the Nigerian Ports Authority and make it a competitive enterprise, with a knack for efficient service delivery.

“The exercise was also meant to turn the NPA into an enterprise that will yield more revenue into government covers through improved vessel calls and an enhanced cargo throughout. To a large extent, this has been achieved.

C M Y K

“For instance, the highest cargo throughput pre-port concession was a mere 46,150,518 metric tonnes. This soared to a staggering 76,886,997 metric tonnes in 2013, And by 2014, it had increased to 86,603,903 metric tonnes.

“Most of the terminals have also grown their throughput by about 250 percent since port concession.”

He commended past leadership of the authority saying that “ Chief Adebayo Sarumi is reputed as the father of the new NPA, on account of successfully shepherding the port concession process that led to ceding of certain aspects of NPA’s operations to the private sector, successive chief executives have also kept the tempo of the new NPA.” Succeeding Chief Sarumi was

Mallam Abdusalam Mohammed, whose most pressing challenge was to ensure that the ship of port concession did not miss its course nor sink.

At a point, Nigerian seaports were rated as one of the costliest seaports in the world due to cost and efficient cargo clearing process

According to Suleiman, Abdulsalam tried to strike a balance between the old order and the new NPA, where entrenched interests of the union, the new terminal operators, the shipping line agents and the larger stakeholders became an issue.

“Often, there were labour-related confrontations, involving the terminal operators, and sometime the NPA. “There were also issues bothering on interpretation of terms of agreement between terminal operators and their landlord ( the NPA).”

It will be recalled that the appointment of Engr Omar Suleiman in 2010, was faced with some challenges but because he grew through the rank and file to become Managing Direc-

tor, stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry, received his appointment with open arms as he was seen as an insider who has traversed the nation’s ports system.

He is an home grown CEO, having joined the organisation immediately after graduating from the university.

He spent only about 18 months, but he is still credited with the achievement of stabilizing the port system and putting concession on a stronger footing.

N600m stopped our pursuit of clearing indigenisation Bill— ANCLA

By Godfrey Bivbere

M

SIGNING CEREMONY: Eze Egwuagwu (l), Captain Niyi Labinjo (m) and Captain Akintomiwa at the signing of MoU between Nigerian Shipowners Association of Nigeria, NISA, and some Greek shipowners in Lagos recently. (Inset) A group of Greek shipowners led by Mr. Constance Kokos (m) during the ceremony.

Stakeholders commend NISA on collaboration with Greeks over vessel acquisition

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the maritime industry have commended the leadership of the Nigerian Shipowners Association of Nigeria, (NISA) on its collaboration with Greek ship-owners to make vessels available to Nigerians Speaking at the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony in Lagos, Executive Director in charge of maritime labour and Cabotage services at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) Barrister Callitus Nwabueze said that collaboration could not have come at a better time than now considering the economic challenges both countries are currently facing.

Nwabueze, who represented the Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi also said that the move to re-build the indigenous fleet will be fully sup-

ported by the NIMASA. He assured the local ship owners that NIMASA will play its statutory role of providing proper regulation with a view to supporting the growth of the nation’s coastal trade.

“With this collaboration and the quality of vessels being expected, the International Oil Companies,(IOCs) will no excuse to patronize Nigerian ship owners.” He added Speaking in similar vein, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport Alhaji Mohammed Bashir noted that the collaboration will not only created the needed employment opportunities, it will also make indigenous ship owner take control of the nation’s coastal trade. He explained that with the ongoing review of the Cabotage Act, Nigerians will soon begin to reap the benefit of the law.

In his opening remarks, President of, (NISA), Capt Niyi Labinjo explained that indigenous shipowners will make a whooping sum of N4.5billion every month if Nigerians are involved in the light rage of refined petroleum products that anchor outside the ports.

“We currently import 1.8billion litres of refined petroleum every and it will cost N3.00 to move one litre from anchorage to the depots and when you multiply three by 1.8billion litre of fuel, the answer is N4.5billion of disposable funds every month.” He added He also explained that with the current 2.5million barrels of crude oil being produced in Nigeria, which add up to over 996million barrels of crude oil, not one drop is carried by a Nigerian owned vessel.

EMBERS Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA has said that its pursuit of import clearing indigenisation bill at the National Assembly was abandoned after they were told that it will cost N600m.

Disclosing this in Lagos, National Present of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said that they were worried about the continued dominance of the clearing of government and international cargoes by foreigners and therefore made moves to domesticate the business through the National Assembly.

Shittu explained that the consultant contracted by ANLCA told them that it would cost them about N600m to complete the process.

According to him, “The CRFFN does not need Practitioners Operating Fees, POF to champion the cause of Customs agents which is an arm of CRFFN. ANLCA has been battling it alone, we have made representation and we were told that what we needed was to have a private bill at the National assembly and by the time we cross checked from a consultant, they say it will cost us N600m (six hundred million naira). If I have N600m would I not retire to my village, let oyibo people (foreigners) do the job. But these are the protectionist tendencies that should have been adopted

by CRFFN, look at how they can take care of the welfare of the people and make representation because they are part of government, the ministry of transport would have also helped to sponsor that bill like it is done all over the world and our people know, but why are they not doing it?

Because those who are behind these oyibo companies are Nigerians who are fronting them,”he concluded.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—25

Five summer travel tips

M

•Pool side of Flourish Resort

Flourish Wellness resort redefining leisure in The Gambia

By Jimoh Babatunde with agency reports

I

T is not for nothing that The Gambia is known as the smiling coast of Africa because as a tourist destination it sure offers visitors all sorts of attractive and fascinating options to explore the best of the leisure world, leaving them with exciting and pleasurable memories.

Flourish Wellness Resort is one of its top rated hospitality properties, a luxury boutique property, which besides its leisure appeal, is classified as Africa’s number one wellness and health resort, as it offers patrons premium wellness facilities and services while basking in the euphoria of its well crafted facilities and professionally delivered services.

For the Marketing Manager, Mr. Arafang Saine, the resort is a class act, which is designed to give first class treatment to patrons with discerning taste, particularly the high-end client desirous of private and exclusive treat.

According to him, the resort, which has Nigerian ex-international football player, Kanu Nwankwo, as its ambassador, cherishes its patrons and is devoted to attending to their needs at all times, hence the resort is C M Y K

highly rated when it comes to personalised services.

“No matter how sophisticated your taste is, how well-travelled or exposed you are, Flourish Wellness Resort is designed to meet them and encourage you for a repeat visit,” said Saine while making a pitch for the resort.

Rooms Located in a beautiful, naturally alluring landscape and nestled against the ocean in the

The resort is a class act, which is designed to give first class treatment to patrons with discerning taste, particularly the high-end client desirous of private and exclusive treat

Kotu area of Banjul, the resort offers 40 exclusively furnished deluxe suites, all offering good view while enjoying rich décor and amenities such as free high speed WIFI and entertainment centre among others.

The exclusive suites offer expansive and aesthetically inviting living rooms with large and beautifully furnished bedrooms with inbuilt wardrobes while you have the luxury of enjoying a free walk to a private veranda or balcony to relax and explore nature and bathe under the canopy of stars.

Wining/dining Given its luxury nature, it delights patrons with fascinating restaurants with rich aesthetics and appealing sceneries on display at its two terraced restaurants where rich continental and African menus are served. There are two bars offering cocktails, beverages and wines from Flourish’s cellar, and a juice bar where guests can pick from 50 locally brewed fruits.

As a resort which places high premium on wellness, eating healthy food is a major concern as it offers dedicated healthy diets.

Fitness/sports Offers a number of fitness and sports facilities, ranging from tennis to beach volleyball, and for

golf enthusiasts there is a lush green Fajara 18-hole golf course, which is located 15 minutes away from the hotel.

Wellness Its wellness facilities and offerings are regarded as top range with its Ayurveda spa services leading the pack.

If you are seeking to maintain a healthy regime, with a trendy look, lose weight and cleanse your system or have a detox and eliminate stress as well stay young then this is where you should visit to experience their prized services as the resort is designed to be the ultimate getaway for a wellness retreat for adults, promote relaxation and inspire rejuvenation and overall well-being while encouraging a change of life style.

Ayurveda spa offers include whole body wellness retreat, which improves wellbeing and healthy life style; stay young and healthy (Anti-aging) retreat, designed for those aged 55 and above - as it is to keep them looking young and trendy; cleanse detox de-stress retreat, ideal for those seeking an escape from hectic and stressful lives and to experience the benefit of a holistic treatment programme; and then there is the healthy weight loss retreat, which is geared towards sustainable weight loss.

ANY tourists are prepar ing to visit different destinations this summer , we present some tips for planning summer travel.

• Check your passport's expiration date. If your passport is scheduled to expire within six months, some airlines may not let you board and some countries will not let you enter. In the US, routine renewal applications typically are processed within four to six weeks, but expedited options are available at an additional cost.

• Research your intended destination. Be aware of seasonal, political and environmental conditions that may result in trip delays. For example, highspeed trains in Europe can be an enjoyable and efficient way to explore, but strikes by rail workers are not uncommon and are usually announced in advance, so have a backup plan.

Know routes and timetables of regional trains and your options for spending additional sightseeing time or even another night at your destination.

• Learn about recommended immunizations for your destination from reputable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and schedule vaccination appointments well in advance to ensure you're protected before your journey begins.

Keep in mind some vaccinations take time to be effective and some must be administered in a series over several days or weeks.

Consider visiting a travel immunization clinic, whose team may be more up to date than your primary care doctor on vaccinations for foreign destinations. Remember to check with your health insurance plan to determine your coverage and costs.

• Plan ahead for water safety.

Water sports are a favorite summer vacation pastime, so if you or your family can benefit from age-appropriate swimming lessons, a boater safety session, or a refresher scuba diving course, look into options and consider the price to be part of your vacation budget. Consider enrolling in a CPR course, too; your training may not be called upon this summer, but it may benefit you and your loved ones long after the memories of your summer vacation have faded.

• Consider trip insurance. For a small percentage of the cost of a summer vacation, a travel insurance policy can cover many unforeseen situations like trip cancellation or interruption, baggage delay or loss, or medical emergencies while traveling.

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

INEC: Jega’s legacies and re-jigging tasks before Amina

By Jude Opara

C

ERTAINLY, the exit from office of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, last month, marks the end of an era, which many analysts say the electoral body recorded a mileage in the conduct of credible elections.

It was the first time an INEC chairman conducted two general elections (2011 and 2015), widely considered as credible.

Before the advent of Jega in 2010, the public image of INEC was at a very low ebb given the controversies that trailed the conduct of the 2007 general elections by the professor Maurice Iwu-led commission. The poor conduct of the 2007 election overshadowed the innovations that Iwu initiated.

Ahead the 2011 general polls, it was very evident that any electoral umpire that worked hard to strengthen the process would be highly revered.

Many Nigerians over the years had linked some of the seeming intractable challenges facing the country to the nation’s faulty electoral system, arguing that if power really comes from the people, any elected officer will work hard to improve on the living standard of the people.

The game changer Jega began by cleaning up the voters’ register, which hitherto had contained names of even well known foreigners as part of the Nigerian electorate, a clear underlining of the fact that elections in Nigeria could have been anything but free and fair. But due to the short time before the 2011 general elections, the register was only cleaned-up with the removal of some multiple registrants as well as names of well known foreign celebrities. The 2011 elections were adjudged as one of the best conducted elections in the history of the country.

The next line of action was the registration of voters for the 2015 elections through what was known as Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

At the end of the exercise, 68.8 million voters were registered.

Most of the seeming innovations for which INEC under Prof. Jega thrived like the use of the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines for the registration of voters were initiated by his predecessor, Prof. Iwu. However, Jega introduced what politicians now referred to as the ‘game changer.’ The Smart Card Reader

(SCR) machine which worked alongside the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) was what many analysts believe reduced to a significant level the incidence of electoral fraud in the 2015 general elections.

It is a well known fact that most politicians loathed the introduction of the Card Reader especially when it became clear that it was going to take care of multiple voting and ballot stuffing which used to be major features of our electoral system.

The short-comings: However, the device either by omission or commission did not checkmate the incidence of child-voters. In some parts of the country, the rate at which children who were clearly under the constitutional voting age of 18 participated in the last general elections was very alarming.

Many of those who believed that it was not really Uhuru with Jega argued that it was either the former chief electoral umpire was biased to have allowed that to go unhindered or that he was incompetent because the children had a smooth ride through all the stages of the election- registration of voters,verification, collection of PVCs, accreditation to vote and actual voting on Election Day. One area many people especially the staff of the commission believe that their former boss performed very poorly is in the area of staff welfare. Apart from the fact that it took a lot of time for allowances and other sundry claims to be paid, there was no form of salary enhancement.

“Let me tell you that the only thing I can say despite the fact that Jega himself was always bragging with it, is that

One area many people, especially the staff of the commission, believe that their former boss performed very poorly is in the area of staff welfare. Apart from the fact that it took a lot of time for allowances and other sundry claims to be paid, there was no form of salary enhancement

•Amina Zakari: Must improve staff welfare

•Jega: Left huge tasks for successor he managed to sustain the hazards allowances which Prof. Iwu approved for every staff during elections. Staff welfare was rather poor under Jega and this is probably due to the fact that he came with a negative mindset that INEC was corrupt,” an INEC staff told Vanguard.

The issue of staff welfare especially

the junior ones which used to be a cardinal policy of INEC under Iwu was jettisoned by Jega even as at today.

The Commission had in 2008 commenced the construction of staff quarters for the junior and inter-mediate staff at Aco Estate, along the Abuja Airport Road but till now nobody has added another Continues on page 29

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—27

takes 5 per cent of your total collections. The question is do you make up to five per cent profit? In a year, no airline makes up to five per cent profit.

So where does the five per cent come from? It means your capital is being further depleted.

Airlines have been complaining for a long time but nothing has been done. When people criticize Nigerian airlines, they don’t mention this. The NCAA, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA take their fees upfront. FAAN takes about N2000 per passenger.

By Clifford Ndujihe

W

HAT is your assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari, one month after he assumed office?

One month of President Buhari, I will say is highly successful. The president should not be stampeded into taking hasty actions that we may regret at the end. He needs time to plan.

He met things that are not so pleasant on his table. He has to take time to undo some of those wrongs.

In one month, you don’t expect anybody to perform miracles.

One thing he did that I like is on the election of the National Assembly leadership. The president told the whole world weeks before the election that he was not going to interfere.

And the president, who everybody did not know to have democratic credentials, all of a sudden said he was not going to meddle in the issues of the National Assembly leadership and stayed away.

When members of the National Assembly elected their leaders, the president said, ‘I would like to work with my party’s choice but the people in the parliament have made their choice. I will stand by them because the choice is constitutional.’

Constitutional choice By so doing, the president has shown that he has removed his military garb and is ready to follow things the way they should be followed.

Again, one thing you must give to Buhari is his aura. The aura of an incorruptible mantra is already affecting the entire country and people are scared to do the wrong things. With that alone, I score him 100 per cent.

His assessment of Buhari on fighting insecurity He just took over one month ago. He needs to study the security reports that the past government collected in the last four years. You cannot really judge him now, he has to plan.

It is when he hits the road running that you can actually judge him. You cannot really expect him to throw the Nigeria military into the fray like that. He has done the first thing by visiting leaders of the neighbouring countries to solicit their support.

Being a former military leader, I am sure he wants to move against Boko Haram in a very bad way. So he would not want a situation where when he moves against them they would find succour in the neighbouring countries.

I believe he will deal with the issue but they should not forget those affected by the insurgency because if you are attacking insurgency and not doing anything about those who suffer collateral damage as a result of the insurgency you will be creating more Boko Haram at the

Government policies

•Onyema:

Insecurity: So far, Buhari has done well — Allen Onyema zSays govt is killing airlines IDE Ihiala and Chairman of Air Peace Airline, Chief Allen Onyema, in this interview assesses President Muhammadu Buhari after month in office and awards him high marks. He also speaks on the war against insurgency, the hurdles of operating an airline in the country, his opposition to plans to float a national carrier and why government must not give intervention fund to airlines that received such fund in the past and mismanaged it. end of the day.

On what to do with the National Conference report Nigeria is a country of about 378 ethnic nationalities. If these nationalities-Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Nupe, Fulai, Gwari, Urhobo, Efik, Itsekiri, etc got together and agreed I think government should adopt the report, that will be the beginning of cementing the unity of this country.

You cannot really expect him to throw the Nigeria military into the fray like that. He has done the first thing by visiting leaders of the neighbouring countries to solicit their support

On Buhari’s comment that Jonathan’s administration was worse than Shagari in terms of corruption Just like I will not assess this regime unfairly before you start assessing the government of Jonathan, you must look at the conditions under which he operated. In assessing who is worse we should consider the circumstances under which they operated. From the day he was announced as the winner of the election till the day he handed over, Jonathan operated with serious security challenges. With that kind of situation it may be difficult for anyone to operate but that is not to excuse the excesses of his government Jonathan must have got certain things right. Chief among them is the peace we are enjoying now because this country was waiting to explode but Jonathan said, ‘no, I concede defeat.’

That has never happened before. So, whatever sin he must have committed he wiped it off with that singular act because Nigeria would have been boiling by now. So we should not do anything that will truncate the peace. We should mind our utterances towards one another and guard jealously the peace we are enjoying.

Since October 24, 2014, Air Peace has been in operation.

What has the experience being like?

Wonderful! Wonderful in the sense that the challenges are interesting but when you take the positive sides what Air Peace achieved in its first six months is monumental.

It is like we have been there for 10 years. We are barely seven months old but we have changed the face of aviation in this country.

I am talking about scheduled flight operations and the way it is run in this country. We have energized competition and brought some innovations that others are emulating and the older airlines are trying to straighten their acts.

What are the challenges?

There are so many challenges out there. If you placed one-tenth of the hurdles airline operators face to stay afloat in Nigeria before airlines in Europe, America, British Isles, etc, the foreign airlines will collapse within 48 hours.

First of all, there is no enabling environment to operate.

Government policies are not friendly to investments. There are multiple taxes from government agencies. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA,

Chief among the hurdles are government policies.

Government says it has waived import duties but in actual fact did they waive import duties? You bring in your aircraft they come with other headings to take money out of your purse. It is only in this country that government acts as disincentive to investments yet the same government will be talking about creating employment.

The Civil service will want to kill you before you even start. As a Nigerian airline, you are dead on arrival because of these hurdles.

Apart from multiple taxes, the running cost is prohibitive. What about insurance? Out there, they use peanuts to insure their planes. In Nigeria, the regulatory body, NAICON says you must insure through a Nigeria company but 10 to 20 Nigerian insurance companies put together cannot insure one aircraft adequately. It means that we have to go abroad to get underwriters who will now use all manner of conditions to extort much money from you. Whether you fly your aircraft or not, the insurance premiums are static and you must pay prohibitive insurance premiums.

Before I started operations, I paid over $1.6 million to underwriters.

The agencies are not helping too. I want to own a maintenance hanger. They did not give me land until I made so much noise.

As at the time they were giving me land, they asked me to pay N675million for 15 years. Why should a government agency be an outright disincentive to investment?

How can government create conducive environment?

Government should start thinking of privatization.

Government must remove multiple taxes, which is a hindrance to the development of the industry. It is even a hindrance to actualizing safety.

Government must also look at the issues of easy accessibility to foreign exchange and creating an avenue for airline operators to collect cheap funds from the banks.

28—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

•Ogbemudia: A credible person will succeed Oshiomhole

•Oshiomhole: Demystified godfathers in Edo

How Edo Mass Movement'll produce Oshiomhole’s successor — Ogbemudia •Says good governance is non-negotiable

By Simon Ebegbulem

T

HE Edo Mass Movement (EMM), a socio-political group led by two-time former Governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia was formally unveiled to the people of the state, last weekend, with the aim of searching for a suitable successor for Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2016.

The former military tactician who has not hidden his appreciation for the developmental projects of the Oshiomhole administration in the last six years, had always stressed the need for the people of the state to elect another governor who possesses the wisdom and foresight of Governor Oshiomhole so that the state will not go back to the days when it witnessed infrastructural decay.

Prior to last Saturday’s event, the EMM, which has structures in the three senatorial districts, had been meeting across the state with community leaders, youths and market women.

The group enjoys support in the rural areas, both from elders youths and veteran politicians, a strategy that Dr Ogbemudia is using to get the grassroots support for whomever the group decides to support at the end of the day.

It was a successful outing therefore last weekend when the group unveiled its logo and senatorial leaders to commence

the search for Oshiomhole’s successor.

The governor whose tenure will come to an end by November 12, 2016, had enjoyed cordial relationship with Dr Ogbemudia, unlike the former chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion who have remained in the trenches ready to battle the governor at any giving opportunity.

The Comrade Governor appears to have demystified governance in the state and cut the excesses and domineering nature of some of these leaders

in the politics of the state. These leaders who are known never to give up, have been boxed to a corner while they pray and hope to kick the All Progressives Congress, APC government out of power in the state so that they can bounce back.

The difference between them and Dr Ogbemudia is that while the latter has elected to search for a credible candidate who will ensure good governance in the state so as to avoid destroying the legacies of Oshiomhole, irrespective of the political party the candidate may belong, Chief Anenih and the Esama of Benin Kingdom are stuck with their party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Acceptable candidate

In his address, Dr Ogbemudia assured that after the search, a candidate that will be acceptable to all the people of the state no matter the status will emerge and that candidate will be the next governor of Edo state after Oshiomhole

However, Dr Ogbemudia’s event was graced by representatives of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party, SDP, the Ijaws, Itsekiris, Bini palace chiefs under the aegis of Otu Odolevbo-Osioba, youth groups from the three senatorial districts and many others.

In his address, Dr Ogbemudia assured that after the search, a candidate that will be acceptable to all the people of the state no matter the status will emerge and that candidate will be the next governor of Edo state after Oshiomhole.

He said: “ My dear friends, brothers and sisters, I am happy

to welcome us all here today, to mark a milestone to our journey towards our noble destination. To have come so far had taken the efforts of many patriots, some of whom are no more. Among our departed stalwarts is Madam Modino Emovon, a formidable leader in her life time. ''Our march towards our goal is the service of our people. Good governance has become the persistent demand of the citizenry. Over time, people from different works of life and from different political affiliations have to come to see me in my private capacity on the same matter of governance. I have also in my private capacity toured some communities and held consultations with some individuals the conclusion has been the same-good governance.

While I feel flattered by the generous comments of different personalities, who think I should spear heard the effort, 'I also believe that collective efforts are needed, and these efforts need to be organized for the attainment of our lofty goal. ''In a democracy, an organization like EMM operates in the name of the people, and so we are obliged to properly inform the public that EMM exists. ''EMM shall function for the sake of good governance for as long as the partners and members can persuade and serve the public. Categorically, for the purpose of the 2016 gubernatorial election in Edo

state, the EMM shall support a candidate and a political party devoted to good governance on account of their antecedent and inclination. With the following, on behalf of our partners and teeming members, I am glad to proclaim the EMM this blessed day.”

After his speech, a retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Isaac Aliyu unveiled the logo of the EMM. However, they were insinuations in some quarters that the group may be fronting for a particularly governorship aspirant in the state and not actually searching for a credible candidate.

A member of the executive of EMM, Dr Okunzuwa Osawaru, swiftly debunked that insinuation while speaking with Vanguard.

He said: “This is not true, I can tell you categorically. But you know how people behave each time some people have laudable ideas that will benefit the masses, they tend to go against it due to their selfish interest. EMM is not fronting for anybody ''I can categorically tell you that nobody is sponsoring the group, this is a personal sacrifice Dr Ogbemudia wants to make for his people because of the love and support people have shown him over the years. Nobody has been excluded except anybody who wants to exclude himself from this group.

Clandestine operation The EMM is an independent organization not in any clandestine operation to promote the interest of any any particular person. In due course after relevant consultations the party and the individual the EMM will support will be made known. ''The proclamation as witnessed is to inform the public that we are commencing the search and people should follow and monitor how transparent it is going to be.

For now we are talking to SDP, APGA and APC and the discussions will be open to everybody, nobody will be excluded.

Vanguard learned that invitations to governorship aspirants to appear before the group will commence in December. Those who are in the race to succeed Oshiomhole include the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu (APC), former Minister of Works, Engr.Chris Ogienwoyi (APC), Kenneth Imasuagbon (APC), Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (APC), former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor (APC) and the state Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie (APC).

Others are Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu (PDP), Senator Ehigie Uzamere (PDP), Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Chief Solomon Edebiri (PDP), Arch.Mike Onolememen (PDP) and former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Lucky Imasuen.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—29

GOV 2016: We need teamwork to liberate Kogi — Audu F

By Chris Ochayi

IRST Civilian Governor of Kogi State, Prince Audu Abubakar wants electorate in the state to push out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Government House, in the forthcoming governorship election.

According to him, voting out the Capt Idris Wada Administration and electing the All Progressives Congress into the Luggard House is the surest way to liberate the state.

Indeed, Audu, who first ruled the state in the botched Third Republic (January 1992 to November 1993 on the banner of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and returned in the Fourth Republic (May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003 through APP and later ANPP), is the leader of the APC in the state and is in the race for the governorship seat.

According to Audu, Kogi State is traumatised and requires urgent teamwork to liberate it.

Audu, who spoke through his media team in a statement yesterday in Abuja, regretted that Kogi State has become the most underdeveloped and backward state in the country.

He therefore promised to liberate the state from degenerating into a failed state, if re-elected.

Audu maintained that he is on a mission to rescue the state

and bring it back to the cradle it was known for.

While assessing the current condition of the state, the exgovernor regretted that Kogi State has become a laughing stock having been rated the most underdeveloped and backward state in the country.

He declared that the unpleasant situation in the state informed his resolve to yield to calls on him from various quarters within and outside the state to re-contest for the office.

Self serving politicians Audu explained that the pressures on him to re-contest “is because of what I did when I was in office some 13 years ago.”

His words: “When I was in office as the executive governor, Kogi State was rated as the

Kogi State has become a laughing stock having been rated the most underdeveloped and backward state in the country

•Prince Abubakar Audu; I'm out to rescue Kogi fastest growing state in the whole federation and I was the best performing governor in Nigeria. But some self-serving politicians in the state connived with Abuja and they used the federal might to rig me out of office in 2003 and the consequences of this is the wrecked state with absolute dearth of infrastructural development.

“My detractors will have

nothing to fear because I am not coming for vengeance. All my time will be preoccupied with infrastructural and human development. So I won’t think of vendetta, that is not my mission. What they did to me is haunting them and that is why they are on that assumption. As far as I am concerned, I have more important things to do than thinking about who

offended me and who did not offend me. That is not my mission.

“Kogi State has become the most underdeveloped state in Nigeria, the most backward state in Nigeria. So you can see why people are clamouring for my return so that we will regain the lost glory and by the special grace of God I will do that,” he said.

INEC: Jega’s legacies and re-jigging tasks before Amina Continues from page 26 block on that project.

Allegations of favouritism The last -minute directorate promotion exercise which Jega carried out on the eve of his departure from the commission is still causing ripples among the concerned staff. A reliable source at the Commission alleged that Jega who left office on Tuesday June 30 had on Friday June 26 approved the promotion of some staff without due regard to the existing Federal Character principle and even guidelines he issued himself.

According to the source, the Commission had came up with a policy that for anybody to be promoted to the directorate cadre, such a person must have passed the promotion examination which was conducted many times. However, after the exercise most of the people who did well were denied promotion while other criteria that were not specified were used to promote some of those who were elevated.

“They told us that due to the fact that there were limited openings for promotions that the examination would be used as a criterion to promote people. We were informed that if there was a vacancy in your state or zone that the person who scored the highest mark shall be promoted but curiously all these were not observed. In fact I can say that except for one or two states, the guideline was observed in breach and that is already causing a lot of disaffection in the Commission.

Denial of promotion “For example, I know of a Deputy Director who scored 75 per cent in his state but the person that was promoted had 66 per cent. Also in another North Central state, the person who came first with 76 per cent was denied promotion while someone who scored 59 per cent was promoted. In fact, this approach has left some deputy directors in the same position for over 10 years. It is

very wrong for people to be stagnated because of favouritism.”

The former INEC boss who has since returned to the classroom at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) was further alleged to have favoured some staff from certain parts of the country to the detriment of those from other parts.

“They are promoting some people using criteria that are different from some others. For example from the North-East and North-West, somebody with even less than 50 per cent will be promoted whereas those from the South-East and North-Central will not be promoted even with 70 per cent and then you will now be answerable to a man who is inferior to you intellectually because of where he comes from.

This certainly is breeding bad blood because it is daylight assault, many people are hurting,” source lamented.

Urgent tasks before Amina Consequently, staff welfare and addressing the injustice arising from Jega’s last-minute promo-

tions constitute the first major tasks before the INEC’s Acting Chairperson, Mrs Amina Bala Zakari. From information available to us it is evident that if nothing was done urgently to address this issue, many of the staff will be working half-heartedly and this will never be in the overall interest of the commission and the country. People must be seen to have been fairly and justly treated no matter the part of the country they come from.

Sources at the Commission have further revealed that with the recent trend, some states of the federation may not have space for promotion in the next 10 years while many staff may retire on account of either age or year of service before they get to even level 15.

Mrs Zakari could consider expanding the top a little to create opportunities and also encourage efficiency and effectiveness. For instance, some of the departments that were merged by Jega could be separated because time has shown that they did better the way

they were before.

A classical example is the Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Societies department which used to have two separate departments. In the past, there used to be the Public Affairs Department headed by a director as well as the Voter education and Civil Societies unit headed by another director.

Doing this will equally encourage professionalism as thorough bred professionals would be detailed to head these departments and units Mrs Zakari, the first woman to head the electoral umpire in the country must take staff welfare very seriously as anything to the contrary may encourage truancy and INEC being a sensible agency may not be able to manage the after-effect of disgruntled staff divulging vital information to unauthorized people in exchange for money. The staff must be allowed to form a Workers Union as the continuous insistence on stopping them may not augur well for the commission.

30—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

How destiny brought Davido and I together —Deekay

By Anozie Egole

A

lthough he is still a green horn in the industry, Deekay as he is popularly called is certainly out to take the industry by storm. In this interview, the Nigerian born-Ghanaian singer talks about his music and how destiny brought the Aye crooner, Davido and himself together. He also explains why he dumped basketball for music.

H

OW did you meet Davido?

Davido has been my friend for a very long time.

We met in Ghana when SoundCity launched its TV station there. Wizkid and D’banj were also in attendance. A friend of mine was preparing to shoot a video for him and that was how fate brought us together. I later had a meaningful discussion with Davido and thereafter, we exchange contacts. That was how we became friends. In fact, when he launched his first album and subsequent ones, I was in Nigeria to support him.

Did you set out to become a musician?

Not at all though I have been singing since childhood. When I travelled to Ghana, I was still in secondary school. Then I used to play basketball.

With the passage of time, I started thinking of delving into other things. I tried my hand at rapping and I did a song. When I gained admission into the university, I actually did not want to go into music. But a friend of mine kept encouraging me to give it a C M Y K

shot. However, I embraced music after I performed during one of the programmes that was held in my school in those days. I did not attend audition for the show, but I pleaded with the organizers to give me a chance to prove my mettleand afterwards they were amazed at my stage craft. But before then, I had started building my career

in music. It was about the same time I met Davido that I did a song titled, “High Fever”, featuring him. The song was released in Ghana. The song was a big hit. As a result, I had to abandon everything I was doing in Ghana and returned to Nigeria.

Do you think Nigeria has the biggest platform for music in Africa?

Of course, everybody knows that Nigeria has the biggest platform when it comes to music in Africa

DJ Cuppy set to tour 8 African countries in 4 weeks

Of course, everybody knows that Nigeria has the biggest platform when it comes to music in Africa.

Even people from Tanzania and other African countries

storm Nigeria to do music.

Why did you study Building Technology

Continues on page 30

Darey back with two new singles

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —31

Continues from page 29 instead of music?

I didn’t start out as a musician. I never studied music even when I was in secondary school. All along, it has been Building Technology. But if I hadn’t studied Building Technology, I would have become a pilot. As a kid, I always imagine being a pilot.

What’s the idea behind your latest single, Repete?

When I came into the music industry, people only knew me as the guy who used to dance in Davido’s music videos. I am a good dancer. If you have watched most of Davido’s videos that were shot in South-Africa, you will notice me there. I danced in “Gobe” and so many other videos. Basically, my fans know me as a dancer than a singer. They just know me as Deekay, the guy that dances for Davido. At a point, I was rooting for Davido. We go to shows together till date.

My new single, Repete is a song that you can dance to and be happy. Shizzi did a nice beat.

How would you describe your kind of music?

I can’t classify my music into any genre because I do different styles of music. I’m a rapper, I do Afro beat, highlife among others.

Would you describe yourself as a dancer?

I was never a dancer and I did not start with dancing. I just danced in Davido’s videos just because I am a good dancer. I was never part of the people he invited to come and dance in his videos. I just danced for the fun of it.

What are your fans expecting from Deekay?

I am coming out with a lot of singles. I’m doing a remix of “Repete” featuring Olamide. I have “Bigger

Davido inspired me to do music.

He’s a good musician, if he is not I would not be where I am today C M Y K

Bone” my second single where I featured Patoranking.

I also have another single which I did with Davido. I have done the song for over two years now. I think this is the right time to release it. If I had released the song earlier, people would have thought I was trying to live under Davido’s shadow because I featured him in the single.

That’s why I released my first single earlier. But I think this is the ideal time to release the song. I got about two hundred thousand views on Youtube alone on my single.

Did your parents support your decision to go into music?

My mother wanted me to do music but my father never supported me. At a point, my dad was indifferent. Later, my mother insisted that if I must do music, it must be gospel.

So that was the problem I faced at the early stage of my career. I had to back out because I was not ready to do gospel music.

Who are your role models?

I have only one, and he is Kanye West.

Why do you address Davido as your boss?

Davido inspired me to do music. He’s a good musician, if he is not I would not be where I am

today.

What’s your assessment of Davido’s latest video, “Fans Mi” which has been generating a lot of controversy?

It’s only pounded yam, not cocaine. Davido has been shooting videos and he has never introduced anything like that in his videos. He has shot over 20 music videos. He has shot the videos of his last album, but he felt the videos are not up to the standard he wants.

That is why he has not released them. At the end of the video, he still eats pounded yam, meaning that he has a storyline which relates to drugs, not drug.

The other thing we need to know about the video is that it is an American video. It featured an American hip hop artiste, Meek Mill, and that’s their standard over there. The artiste he featured in the video is a big American musician. In eight days, the video had about one million views on You Tube. That means people like the video.

How do you describe the Nigerian music industry?

The industry is growing. If the country has no good platform I won’t be here.

This is because people will be seeing you as a stranger and it will be difficult for them to adapt to your kind of music and personality.

The Nigerian music industry is doing better than any other industry in Africa. It’s more competitive here and we have many talented artistes in the country.

Most songs of today lack good content. Do you agree with this observation?

It is very true. But, I won’t do that. My latest single Repete is a danceable song.

It’s for people to dance.

What challenges have you faced so far?

Sometimes, there are some heights you would like to attain. But when I look at who I’m living with, my friend and my boss, knowing fully well that he is the biggest in Africa and we stay together and do everything together, I feel inspired. I am not saying that living with Davido is a challenge to me but it inspires me and makes me to excel. Another major challenge is that sometimes you want to do certain things and you need money to enable you execute them, but it’s not available. So it all boils down to lack of finance.

32— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

DJ Cuppy set to tour 8 African countries in 4 weeks D

J, producer and songwriter, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola popularly known as DJ Cuppy is set to take her career to the next level as she concludes plans to embark on a tour of eight African countries.

Titled ‘Cuppy Takes Africa’, the ambitious tour which kicks off next month in Nigeria will see her storm eight other countries, rounding off in South Africa.

“Exploring Africa and its vast culture has always been a dream of mine,” she said, adding “I am so excited to discover the music, the people and soak in experiences from this tour.”

The celebrated DJ who has under her belt,

a slew of high profile jobs including the 2014 Financial Times Summit and MTV Africa Music Awards, is passionate about the education of Africa’s future leaders, and will support girl’s schools and NGO’s in every country she visit through the tour in partnership with the Dangote Foundation.

The ‘Cuppy Takes Africa’ Tour will include performances, major artiste collaborations press ops, and charitable engagements is proudly sponsored by GTBank. The tour which begin in Nigeria will continue to Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa.

Why D’banj inspires me — Arab Monae

Darey back with two new singles

By Kehinde Ajose

A

P

kande Mubarak Afolabi popularly known as Arab Monae,is yet to be a household name in the music industry. But the rising singer believes he has what it takes to hold his own in the nation’s music industry.

Afolabi is Business Administration graduate of Covenant University,Sango-Otta,Ogun State.

Commenting on how his parents influenced his career in music, the singer said, “I have always loved music as a child. My parents are big lovers of music so it just grew on me”.

The young entertainer describes the music industry as being dynamic saying its bigger than what it was years ago.

When asked who he regards as his role model in the music business, he is quick to mention Dbanj.

“Dbanj inspires me.I look up to quite a number of people like D’banj.He is a really a smart man and a big time business man.He has been there for 10 years.”

opular RnB artiste, Darey Art Alade has returned to reckoning as he drops two new singles. The songs, ‘Pray For Me’ featuring Soweto Gospel Choir and ‘Àsìkò Laiyé’ featuring Olamide, premiered during the week on major radio stations across the country.

With the release of these songs, Darye has relaunched himself into the mainstream music world. He has also given his fans a taste of what they should expect from his fourth album. In Àsìkò laiyé’, the singer blends the afrobeat tune with elements of hip-hop, funk and highlife.

Tijjani Ramalan becomes NEMA patron

O

rganisers of the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA), the Reality Entertainment have announced Dr.Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan a veteran broadcaster and the Executive Chairman, ATAR Communication Nigeria Limited as the new patron of

the award body.

Ramalan succeeds late Ambassador Segun Olusola who until his demise few years ago was the grand patron of the body.

According to a statement the CEO of the body, Kazeem Popoola, the search for credible persons suitable for the position has been concluded and as a result, Alhaji (Dr) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan has been announced as the new Patron of the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit

C M Y K

Awards.

Aside being the owner of Liberty Radio, Tashar Yanci 91.7 FM and Liberty TV, the upwardly mobile radio and TV stations in Kaduna, the Business Administration Graduate of American University of Richmond, London, has written his names in gold for his outstanding contributions to the growth of the broadcasting industry in the Northern part of the country.

Speaking on his new role as the Patron of the NBMA, he said, “I find it a rather unique privilege to have

been approached to be patron of the Broadcasting Merit Awards in the aftermath of the “larger than life” image and enormous impact of the inimitable, highly revered former Grand patron, the immense Ambassador Segun Olusola.

May his soul continue to rest in peace. It is indeed a challenge I look forward to, if only to attempt to match what the mercurial icon of the Arts and Media had done. I can only hope to contribute my quota to uphold and further uplift the standard set so far.”

VOL. 1: NO. 15

FRIDAY, JUL Y 10 , 2015 JULY

NATIONAL POLITICS:

Whither South-West APC?

By Dapo Akinrefon

S

INCE time immemorial, the South-West geopolitical zone has been an active player in the political terrain of Nigeria. This is so because the region has been in the forefront of the power play in polity.

Aside this, over the years and even presently, the zone boasts of men and women, who have been in the forefront of propagating democratic tenets in the country.

Another known fact is that the zone’s political awareness has made it a force to be reckoned with and thus cannot be relegated to the background.

Political heavyweights like Sir Herbert Macaulay, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ladoke Akintola, late Meredith Adisa Akinloye, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, late Moshood Abiola, Adeyemo Alakija and Pa Abraham Adesanya, among a host of others, actively participated in Nigeria’s mainstream politics.

Also, during the military incursions in politics, leaders and elders from the zone were in the forefront at ensuring an end to military intervention in the nation’s politics.

Some have had to pay the ultimate sacrifice—death.

Their efforts during the struggle for independence, the First, Second, the botched Third and Fourth Republics, continue to reverberate in the nation’s history.

History of the nation But things are no longer at ease presently owing to varied factors. The 2015 general elections remains a watershed in the history of the nation.

It marked the end of 16 years rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by an opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. The formation of the APC on February 6, 2013 was in

anticipation of the 2015 elections, which eventually led to the fall of the PDP. The APC was as a result of an alliance of three opposition

The ongoing squabble in the National Assembly over selection of its principal officers attests to this notion

parties namely the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

It was a merger that was aimed at taking on the PDP at the polls.

Interestingly, the defunct ACN, which controlled five out of the six states in the SouthWest and Edo State in the South South zone was a major player in the formation of the APC. Though the 2015 general election is over with the APC emerging winner, there seems to be an attempt to relegate the

South-West from mainstream politics. Asides the fact that the region produced the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the zone is seen to be marginalised.

Pundits posit that the crisis currently affecting the National Assembly over choice of its principal officers is rocking the boat of the APC. The role played by former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the formation and eventual victory of the party cannot be overlooked. The influence of Tinubu at the party ’s presidential primary threw up President Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate.

But it appears that the centre is no longer holding in the APC following a perceived effort at preventing the Jagaban of Borgu kingdom (Tinubu) from enjoying the spoils of war.

The ongoing squabble in the National Assembly over selection of its principal officers

Continues on Page 2

IN THIS EDITION Re: Echoes of Dana air mishap •Page 3

Ovation, as Attah Ayede-Ekiti marks 1-yr anniversary •Page 6 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

OGUN STATE

How cash-crunch delays Amosun’s list of commissioners, aides •Forces him to ‘relocate’ to Abuja

By Daud Olatunji

B

EFORE now, not many people thought that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State would not have nominated his commissioners shortly after the state assembly was inaugurated.

In his first term, Amosun nominated his commissioners few days after the assembly was inaugurated. But this time, strong indications emerged that owing to the huge debt incurred from the nine months deductions of the workers in the state civil service, Amosun may not appoint new commissioners any time soon.

Vanguard gathered that Amosun’s plan was to delay the appointment of commissioners and other aides such as Special Assistants, Advisers and Chief of Staff, so as to save some money for the payment of the salary arrears.

The state government has only paid the workers’ deductions up to last year September and as such was owing nine months deducted between October and June. Findings have shown that Amosun’s government was expected to remit N1.5 billion every month and if multiplied by nine, he is expected to cough out N13.5 billion.

Crippled activities: Meanwhile, the refusal of Amosun to appoint new commissioners has slowed down the operation of governance in the state.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the absence of the 20 commissioners in Amosun’s

•Governor Ibikunle Amosun

government has almost crippled activities of the ministries.

Ogun State has 20 ministries which were being supervised by political heads, the commissioners.

These ministries have permanent secretaries and directors who do the administrative works in the ministries.

At the moment, feelers have it that Ogun State is run by Amosun, his Deputy, Yetunde Onanuga, the Secretary to the State government, Taiwo Adeoluwa who was reappointed

by Amosun recently and the Head of Service, Modupe Adekunle.

It was learnt that all the permanent secretaries in the ministries would meet with the Head of Service who will now report to the SSG for the onward transfer of their views and suggestions to the governor. This is because the state service rule forbids permanent secretaries from having direct discussion with the governor without the express

approval of the Head of Srvice.

Since Amosun's administration was inaugurated on May 29, the government machineries have been grounded following the absence of the commissioners.

Though, the governor is still

Most of the top civil servants who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the government is administratively comatose

visiting some projects sites across the state, the projects have been abandoned. For instance, since the inauguration of Amosun, some prominent ministries in the state have not engaged in any serious programme.

The Ministry of Works has suspended activities as most of the roads undergoing construction have been abandoned. The ministries of Health, Information among others are said to be inactive. The refusal of Amosun to appoint his spokesman has worsened the situation, as no one is available to defend the government’s policies when the need arises.

Civil servants lament: Most of the top civil servants who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the government has gone comatose. According to them, governance has gone to bed and not until the governor appoints commissioners to supervise the ministries, the situation would remain the same.

Vanguard further learnt that the commissioners were not the ones doing the work, but only

coordinate the ministries.

The commissioners have access to the governor and hold executive meetings where they ratify their programmes. But the Permanent Secretaries do not have access, as they can only pass their suggestions to the governor through the Head of Service.

Abuja: Amosun’s new home Against this backdrop, Vanguard gathered that the governor barely resumes for work at the Oke Mosan Government House, as he now stays more in Abuja, in a bid to provide solution to the disturbing deductions from the state’s allocations.

Amosun, it was learnt, promised not to rest on his oars until workers get their arrears.

However, how the governor can achieve this given the country’s economic woes is yet to be seen.

Although, part of his plans, Vanguard learnt, was to delay the appointment of the commissioners and other principal aides for six or seven months so as to generate some funds.

Governor's decision Doubts, however, linger on how the governor’s decision not to appoint commissioners and key aides would help meet up with the deductions, arising from the fact that their total pay is still not enough to meet the demands.

For instance, it was gathered that in his first term, Amosun paid each commissioner a sum of N400,000 and paid N250,000 to other aides.

When summed up, N400, 000 is multiplied by 20 commissioners and N250, 000 is multiplied by about 20 aides, it is still not enough to pay the deductions.

However, Amosun seems to be enjoying the free service of some former commissioners as he beckons on them and engages them.

NATIONAL POLITICS: Whither South-West APC?

C M Y K

Continues from page 1 attests to this notion.

Chairmen take harsh stand on Saraki and Dogara The imbroglio rocking the party over the choice of principal officers of the National Assembly is seen as an attempt to edge the South-West APC out of the political calculation.

In an effort at resisting this, chairmen of the APC from the zone have vowed not to recognise the emergence of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara until the crisis revolving around the National Assembly contest is sufficiently resolved by the party.

This harsh stance taken by the chairmen from the zone is already generating heat as the national

leadership seems not comfortable with this development.

The grouse of the chairmen is seen as an attempt to relegate the zone to the background.

Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of the party, Chief Jide Awe and his counterpart in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke insisted that the two presiding officers of the National Assembly should apologise to the party to avoid compounding their problems.

The duo spoke in the wake of assertions that the SouthWest caucus of the party may have decided to boycott activities of the party upon the crisis provoked by the failure of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to win the leadership contest and the subsequent resistance to his emergence as Majority Leader of the House.

Speaking on the development, Awe said: “I was at the NEC meeting but I did not go and salute the Senate President nor the Speaker. This is because there are issues on ground that have not been resolved by the leadership of the party. This crisis has to be resolved. We are a third party to this crisis and a third party should not contribute to an existing problem, rather he should look for solutions.”

Congratulation of winners Awe noted that the chairmen of the party from the region unanimously resolved not to congratulate Senator Saraki and Speaker Dogara.

His words: “All the SouthWest chairmen have decided to allow

the party solve the problems with the National Assembly before we start congratulating the winners.

When probed to know if the chairmen from the zone were acting the script of a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he said, “that is what they will think but they are wrong.

People do not know the workings of the APC. For Asiwaju (Tinubu) not to be at the NEC meeting means that he is not a member.

Also speaking on the issue, chairman of the party in Oyo state, Chief Oke said the state chairmen of the party believe very strongly that party supremacy should be respected.

He also maintained that the state chairmen of the party visited the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to ensure that he respects the position of the party.

Southwest APC’s position Perhaps, in an attempt to be neutral in the crisis rocking the party, the South-West zone caucus of the party has dissociated itself from the position taken by the chairmen.

Director of Publicity, APC South West Zonal Caucus, Mr Ayo Balogun, in a statement accused hack writers “whose sponsors are the beneficiaries of the crisis in the National Assembly are capable of pushing out such bellicose news items that has no bearings to the realities in the Zone to please their masters.”

Balogun said “the South West Zone as a foundation pillar of the APC will not be a party to the dismantling of the house it joined other patriotic Nigerians to build.''

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 3

LAGOS STATE

After 5 appointments, Ambode’s silence stirs disquiet among APC chieftains

By Olasunkanmi Akoni HAVING made five key appointments since assuming office as the 14th Executive Governor of Lagos State, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s seeming silence, seems to have caused apprehension among politicians, particularly party chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

The last administration of Governor Babatude Fashola had 39 cabinet members and 11 non cabinet members.

Recall that after his electoral victory, the elated governor-elect, Ambode categorically told Lagos residents that “I have been declared the victor in this election but this is no time for gloating or boasting. I am now to be the servant of this state in its entirety, not just for All Progressives Congress, APC, members, but for all Lagosians no matter their political stripes, ethnicity or religious affiliations.

“Today, we celebrate democracy and its triumph.

Tomorrow, we get to work to fashion an incoming administration that, with the best management team Lagos has to offer, will carry forward the legacy of the progressive administrations that preceded it.

“You have voted for me. Now, I shall work for you and your cause. That cause is to extend and expand the process of development and growth in this

state.

“The task ahead is not an easy one. Nor is it impossible. With wisdom, creativity and strength of purpose we can accomplish great things for this great state.

By God’s grace, we shall make this our way. The only sure way to achieve change.”

Highpoint of Ambode’s inaugural speech at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos on Friday, May 29, 2015, was the announcement of plans to create new ministries and two offices.

According to Ambode “I want to assure the business community and corporate Lagos that the ease of doing business in Lagos will be improved upon earnestly. Lagos is open for greater business.” He disclosed that a new office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (LAGOS GLOBAL) shall be created under the Governor’s Office.

“We want you to fly into Lagos, start your business, find your way, live, work and enjoy in Lagos. As part of our reforms, a new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment shall be established. This would specifically address the promise I made during the campaign on employment trust fund, labour exchange and entrepreneurship.

This goal, we shall pursue vigorously.

“Also, the Office of Civic Engagement shall be created under the Deputy Governor’s Office to strengthen and enhance

•Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

our promise on government of inclusion. Everyone must have a voice in my administration,” the governor noted.

The five lucky heads: However, few days after his inauguration, Ambode, a professional civil servant with wealth of experience, announced former Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, as Secretary to the State Government, SSG; Mr. Samuel Ojo as the chief of staff; Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, as the Principal Private Secretary, and Mr. Habib Aruna as the Chief Press Secretary.

Ojo before his appointment, was the permanent secretary in the Office of the chief of staff while Aruna was formerly the editor of Sunday Independent Newspapers.

Recently, Ambode, in the ongoing restructuring of his administration, appointed Mr.

Michael Kolawole Akindele as the new General Manager for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA. Akindele who replaced Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, was a former Vice Chairman Ikeja Local Government Area, before he became Special Assistant on Health to former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, between 20042007. The new LASEMA boss has a robust experience in Health and Public Administration.

However, Vanguard gathered that the major issues responsible for the delay in appointment of commissioners and aides border on the issue of party list and the need to appoint technocrats, who will be square pegs in square holes.

The position of Lagos lawmakers: Despite being inaugurated last Month, and yet to get Ambode’s appointment list, some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, LAHA, are of the view that the delay in the appointment to form a cabinet was for the general good of the state. The lawmakers said that the delay had not affected governance and projects executions across the state.

According to lawmakers, the governor is being very careful in

the selection of individuals to manage the affairs of the state.

Adebisi Yuppie (APC-Alimosho 1) said that the delay had not in any way affected the governance and ongoing projects handed over to Mr. Ambode by his predecessor, former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Yuppie said: “Have you not seen work going on? I just pray all other states are like Lagos State. Our civil servants are highly educated, they are productive and have been exposed to a lot of trainings. As I speak, there is continuity in the state. The Ayobo/Ipaja Road is being constructed; before the departure of the last government, the project was stopped, but work is now going on.

“A new government has to be careful. You just don’t employ people whose capacity you don’t know. You have to get security reports on them,” he said.

On the people’s expectations that the governor was going to immediately swing into action, Yuppie said, “if he (Ambode) employs the wrong hands in his cabinet, the same people will complain.”

While soliciting for patience, he stressed that Lagos was known for integrity and hard work, which should be sustained.

Similarly, Rotimi Olowo (APCSomolu 1) said the governor was working hard to create wealth and bring foreign investment to Lagos. “He (governor) has said that he was going to create some agencies and merge others to reduce cost. There is a reason for us to cut cost, especially the recurrent cost, so that much money will be available for capital expenditure,” he said.

pre-condition to an award of damages in excess of US$100,000 arising from the death of all the Deceased; and whether where damages claimed for the death of any of the Deceased exceeds the strict liability limit of US$100,000, it is the defendants that bear the reverse onus of proving that such damage was not due to the negligence or other wrongful act

or omission of Dana Air or any of its servants or agents or was solely due to the negligence or other wrongful act of a third party, in order to limit their liability to US$100,000?

They are also praying the court to hold that the plaintiffs have a continuing cause of action against the estate of the pilot who flew Dana Air’s aircraft that crashed on June 3, 2012.

Re-echoes of Dana air mishap

By Innocent Anaba A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos, has begun hearing in the suit by the 23 families of the victims of the Dana Airlines Limited, (Dana Air) plane crash of June 3, 2012.

Meanwhile, trial judge in the matter, Justice Mohammed Idris has upheld argument of plaintiffs’ lawyers on the four categories of applications before the court, granting all the reliefs sought in the applications.

In the suits instituted on May 30 and June 2, 2014, the 23 families are represented by different counsel and law firms, under Aviation Attorney Group led by Oba Nsugbe, SAN of Pump Court Chambers, Dr. B. Ajibade, SAN, Managing Partner of the firm of SPA Ajibade and Co and Ajibola Dalley of GRF Dalley and Partners and their foreign colleagues Jim Morris and Rebecca Smith - both of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in the United

Kingdom.

The air mishap victims’ families are praying the court for an order directing Dana to pay those plaintiffs, who had not received the statutory advance payment of US $30,000 in full or at all, the outstanding advance payment due; interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 percent per annum from July 4, 2012, the 30th day after the air crash and the date on which this payments ought to have been made, up until the date of the order and at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of the court’s order till the said sums are fully paid; and the costs of the applications assessed at US$10,000 per each of such applications. *An order setting down the following questions of law arising in the matters for hearing; to wit: Whether, upon a proper construction and interpretation of Articles 29, 30 and 32 of the Convention, the Plaintiffs did not have a continuing cause of action

•Scene of Dana air crash

against the estate of the pilot who flew Dana Air’s aircraft that crashed on June 3, 2012? *Whether, upon a proper construction and interpretation of Articles 17 and 21 of the Convention, proof that damages claimed are due to the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of Dana Air or any of its servants or agents or solely due to the negligence or other wrongful act of a third party, is a

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

OGUN STATE

By Evelyn Usman The relative peace enjoyed

by Lagosians for sometime now, seems to have been shattered by a resurgence of robbery attacks.

Recently, the dare-devils have bared their deadly fangs on the City of Excellence by robbing banks and carting away millions of naira.

This resurging trend has, no doubt, thwarted the relative peace hitherto enjoyed by Lagosians for some time. A close observation of crime statistics in the state showed that a similar trend in the sequence of bank robberies occurred about seven years ago,where several policemen were killed by men of the underworld during operations.

Specifically, between January and July, 2015, three major bank robberies with same pattern of operation occurred in the state .

Thursday , March 12, 2015 First, was the robbery operation in some banks at the high-brow Lekki area.

On the p e n u l t i m a t e T h u r s d a y, commercial activities went on as usual, with workers looking forward to retiring home in the evening. Suddenly, some fiercelooking gunmen invaded the area through the lagoon, into an empty but fenced land beside a shopping complex which borders two second generation banks, by the Lekki round about end of the bridge.

Like a scene from Hollywood thriller, the gun -wielding men, dressed in military fatigue uniforms, announced their presence with volleys of gun shots.

They made their way unhindered into the banks, shattering the electronic security doors which, ordinarily, would have rejected the entrance of anyone with electronic object.

Electronic object At the end of the operation, the robbers left in their trail, the death of five persons: three policemen; Inspector Bethel Agbobu, Sergeant Odehowho George and Corporal Imoise Ikechukwu, and two civilians; Mr. Sowemimo Kabiru and Miss Sarah Ibikunle, a 15-year-old fish seller close to the bank. Several millions of naira were carted away, as well as the service rifles of the dead policemen.

June 1, 2015 Luckily, few weeks later, detectives attached to Lagos State command Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, recorded a breakthrough by arresting four suspects who claimed to have participated in the operation.

They recovered a 2008- model Honda Accord car purchased by one of the suspects from his share of the loot. Also recovered was a white Blackberry Z10 phone, one Apple i-Phone 5, one military face cap, said to have been used during the operation, including

•Banks robbery suspects

Return of violent crimes in Lagos?

•3 bank robberies in four months •Fear as militants, pipeline vandals turn to robbery

120 expended ammunition.

The jubilation over this success was, however, shortlived as the bandits struck again with the same pattern. This time around, it was the Ijede, Ikorodu branch of two second generation banks where several millions of naira were again carted away.

June 24, 2015 Same month, precisely on June 24, 2015, men of the underworld stormed the Ipakodo , Ikorodu branch of two first generation banks . In this case, they threw caution to the dogs by daring policemen whose station was right opposite the banks.

Although the policemen reportedly tried to repel the hoodlums, they were reportedly overwhelmed by their number and sophisticated weapons which included dynamites.

The race for dear life transcended age limit as both the young and old took to their heels in different directions in order not to be hit by stray bullets.

While the shooting spree by the gang members stationed outside the banking hall lasted , their heavily armed colleagues proceeded to the banks. And like people who were in no hurry to leave, they reportedly took their time to put the wads of naira notes into some bags. At the end of what could be termed a successful operation, they made away with N80 million , escaping through the jetty.

Trail customers from bank

Another emerging trend pratcised by the criminals in Lagos is also trailing bank customers, particularly those who had gone to withdraw money from banks. They normally pose as customs and occupy strategic positions in the banking halls where they can easily detect those withdrawing huge sums of money. Immediately they sight any target, those in the banking hall will contact their colleagues outside , describing the target to them.

Sometimes, members of the gang will be stationed around the bank looking out for customers who have gone to withdraw money. On sighting any, they would trail him to a safe place, from where they would

On the other hand, hoodlums have also resorted to trailing bank customers, particularly those who had gone to withdraw money from banks

•Victor Ahiuma-Young

•Pastor Okpokpo felled by robbers bullets forcefully dispossess the person of his hard-earned money.

Attack on Vanguard staff One of their recent victims was the Assistant Labour Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Victor Ahiuma-Young.

But for providence, Ahiuma-Young would have been reported among those whose life was snuffed out by men of the underworld.

He was shot, Monday, April 20, 2015, by gunmen along OshodiApapa Expressway, after robbing him of an undisclosed amount of money he had gone to withdraw from the Sadiku branch of a second generation bank.

The two gunmen trailed him from the bank to a newspaper vendor ’s stand where he intended to get some of the dailies. As he was about to pick some, one of the gunmen shot him in the thigh before ordering him to hand over the money he went to withdraw.

In shock, Young turned to see

who the intruder was, only to be fired at a second time. At that point, everyone at the busy busstop took to their heels, including commercial motorcyclists, leaving Young to his fate.

In an attempt to ward off the intruder, Young picked a stone and hurled it at him. As he went for another, the gunman shot him in the hand, forcing the money he had gone to withdraw to fall off. In a commando-like style, the gunman then picked the money and jumped into their operational motorcycle, where his partner was waiting, and they zoomed off, heading towards Berliet Bus Stop, leaving Young half-dead in a pool of his blood. His case, according to Crime Alert’s findings, was not the first along that axis.

A month before then, a teenager whose father had given an unspecified amount withdrawn from same bank to take home, reportedly had his Continues on page 5

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 5

OSUN STATE

By LATEEF DADA

I

LESA-That education is the best legacy is indeed a tall order for no fewer than 1, 500 students of Federal Science and Technical College, FSTC, Ilesa, Osun State, as the conducive and serene environment required to aid learning is amiss in the school.

Vanguard investigation, revealed that about 145 students share just four rooms and eight units of toilets in the school’s boys hostel, even as the water and other facilities are in apparent bad state.

This development the parents have decried poses danger to the health of their wards, lamenting that that it has given room for rats to feed on their children’s legs at night while sleeping their hostels.

Other learning facilities in the school in apparent disrepair are the overcrowded classrooms, desks, chairs, windows and doors. Also, a part of the female hostel which was said to have caved-in two months ago, exposing the female students to danger was yet to be repaired by the college management.

Vanguard learnt that members of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, the plights of students in the school has since deteriorated, forcing the PTA to take-up government’s responsibility of recruiting teachers.

The parents said the move became necessary to so as not to jeopardise the future of the students. The parents, it was also learnt are planning to increase the salary of the teachers employed by them from N18,000 to N30,000, as well as providing gardeners to tidy the school environ.

War of words At a recent PTA meeting, which lasted for over five hours, the parents who were apparently disgusted by poor learning condition their wards were subjected to, were said to have engaged the school management in a war of words.

For neglecting its responsibilities to them, the aggrieved parents called on the Federal Government to investigate the rot in Federal Colleges across the country, particularly the FSTC, Ilesa. This is even as they called on the school management to transfer control and ownership of the school to the PTA, having privatise the school, they should neglected its responsibilities.

They queried why only parents let us know. I brought my children should be providing all the because of the standard I heard teaching and learning facilities in about the school, but what I am the school, including plates and seeing now seriously calls for concern,” he said. spoons used in hostels.

Similarly, another parent who An aggrieved parent, who pleaded not to be mentioned in pleaded anonymity, described the welfare provided for the students print lamented that sometime ago, as very bad, saying “there is no her child took ill, and nearly died water in the toilet of the student of malaria, adding that she was and we learnt that they travel very treating her of malaria, not distance just to fetch water to flush knowing she was bitten on her their waste. What will it take to leg by a rodent.

Her words: “During the last run a pipe to the hostel when even the prisons have water,” he holiday, when my child came home, she complained that she queried.

“We have not felt any impact of saw maggots in the butter added government and we must not on the bread given to them in the continue like this. If they want to school cafeteria. I have to take her

•Main gate of Federal Technical College, Ilesa

FTC-Osun, where students live in rat-infested hostel

*Our children live like prisoners, lament parents to the hospital where she later said that rat has bitten her left feet. We must find a solution to this and stop putting the lives of about 1,500 students at stake.”

No subvention since March However, reacting, the Principal, FSTC, Ilesa, Onwusiri D. C., lamented that the school has been receiving poor support from the Federal government, a situation that has compelled the management to concurrently ask for the PTA’s assistance.

He noted that the school has not received subvention from the Federal government since March, saying “this has been the reason we have not been able to

implement the increment of workers salaries.”

Decrying the epileptic electricity supply to the school, the principal appealed to the PTA to wade in, stating that the management was spending a huge amount on fuel to power the school’s generating set. “We have tried all we could to persuade the electricity distribution company to change the time electricity supply to our school is seized, to enable us spend less on fuel. We spend at least N340, 000 weekly to keep our power generating set powered.”

On the rampaging rats that have invaded the school premises, including the students’ hostel,

Return of violent crimes in Lagos?

Continues from page 4 wrist chopped off by gunmen operating on motorcycles and the money carted away. Shortly after Young’s incident, another man was attacked while coming out from the bank. Unfortunately, the unidentified man could not live to narrate his ordeal as he reportedly bled to death before help could come.

Surprisingly, since November last year, over 30 attacks on bank customers had reportedly been witnessed between Sadiku and Berliet axis of the express-way.

Information at Crime Alert’s disposal has it that the robbers usually operate between 5.30am and 7am. They resume in the evening around 6pm and 9pm.

Residents alleged policemen attached to divisions under area ‘D’ Mushin are aware of these

attacks , owing to several complaints lodged by victims but seem to be doing nothing to address the issue. Others, further alleged that these hoodlums were , sometime, arrested by the police but later released to continue causing mayhem on helpless and defenceless residents.

Pastor Okpokpo too The list of those trailed from banks by gunmen is endless.

Barely two weeks ago, unknown gunmen, shot dead Lagos State Coordinator of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Chukwuemeka Okpokpo, at Apple Junction, Amuwo Odofin area of the state, while on his way from the Amuwo -Odofin branch of a second generation bank, where he had gone to withdraw the sum

• IGP Solomon Arase of N3 million on behalf of the church.

Reports said Pastor Okpokpo tried to escape when it became obvious that he was their target.

But, he reportedly slowed down on reaching a bad spot along the the road where the hoodlums

who operated on a motorcycle shot at the tyres of the Chosen vehicle he was driving, thereby bringing the vehicle to an abrupt halt. From that vantage position, they reportedly fired Okpokpo in the stomach before making away with the withdrawn money.

As you read this piece, the body of Pastor Okpokpo is lying in the morgue in his home town in Amizi, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Umuahia of Abia State.

Unfortunately, till date, no arrest has been made in connection with Okpokpo’s death nor that of Vanguard’s Assistant Labour Editor.

Militants, pipeline vandals fingered Although some arrests have been made in connection with the bank operations in Lekki, Ijede and Ipakodo, Ikorodu area

Onwusiri said that the management always fumigate the school during holidays, advising the parents to suggest another means by which rats can be prevented or rather minimised.

Meanwhile, the PTA Chairman, Ogunfunminiyi A.O, noted that his administration, already in its twilight had embarked on building and completion of a block of seven classrooms, sinking of borehole and motorised well.

Ogunfunminiyi said: “Our administration has embarked on many developmental projects such as the request for transformer from the Local Government and installation for the use of the college community, construction ongoing school clinic, construction of 22 units of modern toilet in the boys’ hostel, purchase of generating set, equipment of Cisco laboratory with facilities, recruitment of teaching staff, medical and security guards, payment of staff salary, among others.”

of Lagos, there are indications that this resurgence of bank robbery may not be abated ,except drastic proactive measures are applied by the Police. This is because, suspects arrested in connection with these bank robberies were discovered to be recruited from the Niger Delta region in far-away Delta state. They include oil bunkerers and pipeline vandals.

This disclosure was made by the suspects, some of who confessed to be pipeline vandals who opted into robbery because of the military offensive launched on them by the soldiers especially along Ikorodu axis.

One of those paraded Monday by the outgone Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti , disclosed that pipeline vandals were being recruited into robbery,.

According to the suspect identified as Monday Omoboye Continues on page 6

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

ONDO STATE

•Affected traders displaying their goods outside

•The affected buildings

7 months after, Ondo govt yet to fulfil promises to victims of Arakale gas explosion

By Dayo Johnson

D

ecember 13, 2014, may for a while continue to leave a sad imprint in the hearts of the families of those whose shops and houses were razed to ashes owing to a gas explosion which occurred at Arakale area of Akure, the Ondo state capital.

That fateful day, at about 7.30pm, the victims watched helplessly as what they had laboured for almost all their lives went up in flames. Like babies, they cried and wailed, thinking that all hope was lost.

No fewer than 21 shops and 10 houses were razed to ashes in that raging inferno.

Also, about eight persons reportedly in a bid to save their belongings from the shops and houses got badly injured by the inferno . While they were rushed to the trauma centre in Ondo town, some of them reportedly died as a result of the degree of burns they sustained.

But the next day, Saturday, December 14, after keeping vigil all night at the scene, they later managed to clean up their soiled faces following an assurance from the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko that government will pay compensation to all the affected persons.

A loud ovation and a chorus “Thank you our caring heart governor” rented the air. Some even jumped touching the sky out of joy, believing that all hope was eventually not lost.

However, seven months after that assurance from the governor, the victims, who lost goods and properties worth millions of Naira in that inferno, are still expectant of the promised compensation packages by the governor.

Perturbed by this, some of the

victims Vanguard gathered are on the streets again to eke a living, as the state government seemed to have left them to their fate, after footing the bills of those injured in the inferno.

A visit to the area showed that the burnt buildings and shops have not been rebuilt or renovated. All those who were affected by the disasters now display their wares outside on the street, even as they are at the mercy of elements of weather.

However, recall that true to his promise, the governor set up a committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, in the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, Dele Ogunwolere to look into the causes of the inferno and submit its findings.

Government reportedly paid the medical bills of those that were injured and admitted at the trauma centre. But what has continued to irk the victims is the alleged inability of the governor to fulfil his promise of giving compensations to the victims.

Victims

send

SOS

Mimiko Against this backdrop, owners of the shops, tenants to the houses that were burnt and their landlords have again sent a save our soul message to the state government, decrying that life was becoming difficult for them months after the fire outbreak.

The spokesperson of the victims, Akinloye Oluwatayo, who spoke to Vanguard, said they have protested to the governor ’s office and the Ministry of Works several

We have even visited both the governors office and the ministry over five times but all we were told is that we should be patient with government

to

times without any positive result.

Oluwatayo said they were appealing to governor to fulfil his December 14 promise to compensate them for their losses and and thus, put smiles on their faces.

According to him the committee had visited and taken inventory of everything immediately the incident happened in December last year.

He said: “We have even visited both the governors office and the ministry over five times but all we were told is that we should be patient with government. We have been roaming the streets, some of us who still have some money have managed to buy few things to sell, so as to keep body and soul together.

We display what we sell outside as you can see. We are affected by both the rain and sun daily. We always pray that it should not rain but since it’s one of God’s creatures, we scamper to pack our goods inside every available shelter, whenever it starts raining.”

Findings by Vanguard,

showed that the medical bill forwarded to government to offset was in the neighbourhood of N19 million and this has been paid.

Commenting however, on the delay, the Information Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade said that government has not abandoned the people affected by the fire outbreak.

Akinmade noted that the state government had cleared the medical bill amounting to over N19 million of those injured and admitted at the trauma centre in Ondo town.

The Commissioner confirmed that the committee saddled with the responsibility of taken the inventory had submitted it’s report to the state government.

He however said that the State Executive Council EXCO is still studying the report and would soon come out with a bumper package that will put smiles on the faces of the people.

Return of violent crimes in Lagos?

Continues from page 5 who claimed to be a pipeline vandal, he was recruited into the gang by a colleague.

He said:” I met them at the creeks last year. I thought they were going to vandalise pipeline and decided to join them. But I had no keg with me . It was about 2pm. I drove the speed boat . Before I knew it, we found ourselves at Lekki/Epe axis. When I asked what they were going to do there, they said they were going for operation.

They left me in the boat with a directive not to move. One of them with a gun even stayed behind to ensure I won’t run away with the boat . After the operation, I took them back to the creeks .

At the end I was given N400,000. I concluded there and then to follow them again since it was not as stressful as pipeline vandalism. This is because some of our members have been killed by joint Military force during operation. I also conveyed them to the bank robbery operations at

Ijede at the end of which I was given N2 million. The last one which was at Ipakodo in Ikorodu, I was also given N2 million.

Other members of the gang are militants from Niger Delta. I don't know them . We only meet during operation. I was told they usually leave a day after operation."

Challenge before the new CP As the former Lagos CP, Kayode Aderanti handed over the baton of the command’s leadership to his successor, Mr

Fatai Owoseni , Monday, expectations are very high from Lagosians particularly, in the area of dousing the seeming spate of violent crimes in the state.

Owoseni who was among the 37 Deputy Commissioners of Police that were recently promoted by the Force, has been mandated by the authorities in Abuja to reverse the crime wave in the state, so that Lagosians can sleep with their two eyes closed.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 7

OYO STATE

By Ola Ajayi

I

f no urgent measure is taken by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the religious feud between Christians and Muslims, in Oke-Afin, Igboho in Oke Ogun area of the state, over alleged illegal erection of a mosque on the premises of the Baptist High School in the area, may escalate.

Barring any last minute urgent peace move by Ajimobi, the feud between both religious organisations could snowball into a full blown religious crisis capable of rupturing the much-touted peace, his administration brandishes as one of its major achievements since coming into office four and half years ago.

Vanguard gathered that the feud over the building of the mosque dates back to 1982 and festered in June 17, 2013 when an association known as Oore-Oluwa Baptist Association wrote a letter of complaint to the Divisional Police Officer, Oorelope Local Government, Igboho that a group of Islamic sect led by Bello Yekini, the Chief Imam of Anwarul-Islam, Igboho chapter has started erecting a mosque on the premises of the Baptist School, noting that it was in total disregard to an earlier directive by the state government.

At the annual session of Ifelodun Omo Igboho held that year, they unanimously agreed that the erection of mosque in the school by the Muslim group was unacceptable by the union in the interest of peace. But, this group of Muslims in question is not interested in the peaceful co-existence.

Peaceful coexistence However, details of the meeting where the decision to shelve the plan of building the mosque was taken showed that members of both religious organisations were in attendance. Among those who attended the meeting include Pastor Ezra Adelani, Senior Apostle Olayemi John, Mr. Oni E. A(JP), Deacon E.A Adeola, Imam Y. K Bello, Halefat Baba Adelakun, Imam Sumuratal, Imam Kewulere Alao, Imam Agba of Igboho, Alhaji Ismaili Kodi among others.

The minutes which was though written in Yoruba Language stated thus “We all agreed that we should give peace a chance in this town. Muslims should stop building mosque on the

•The controversial mosque

Tension in Igboho town over building of mosque on Baptist school premises •Community owns school, not Baptists —Imam premises of the school and should look elsewhere which is not within the compound of the school to build their mosque where Muslim students can offer their prayers. The town has returned the ownership of the school to the Baptist Church according to the practices of our forefathers.

Devil will not cause confusion among us. Amen.”

Apart from the joint decision taken by the town, the Ministry of Education and Youth Development, Secretariat, through the zonal coordinator, Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, in a circular marked EDU 107/vol. v/320, states that “all religious organizations and activities in whatever form are banned in all schools until further notice and that school principals and head teachers should revoke all private arrangements made with religious organizations using their schools as venues of religious worship either during the week days or weekends.”

The circular which was signed by the then Zonal Coordinator, TESCOM, Mr. S. A. Okunade warned all the school heads to ensure that the content of the circular was given the widest publicity among staff and students as severe sanction awaits non-compliance by any school, religious organization or staff.

Seeing that the directive was not strictly adhered to and to encourage religious tolerance among students and teachers of both religions, the government again, on July 1, 1997, reissued and re-emphasise the contents of all circulars issued previously.

To extinguish the glowing embers of religious intolerance which was festering then, the government directed that “Islamic religious studies should be taught side by side with Bible Knowledge and offered in both the junior secondary school certificate and the senior school certificate

Islamic religious studies should be taught side by side with Bible Knowledge and offered in both the junior secondary school certificate and the senior school certificate examinations

examinations.”

In the ensuing melee, the Imam, Yekeen Bello, dismissed the allegations, saying the school which the Baptist is claiming its ownership was established by the combined effort of the community.

According to him, the school that belonged to three different religious groups which are Muslim, Christian and traditional worshippers is what the Baptist is now claiming to own.

Justifying his claims that the building of the school was out of efforts of the community, Bello said, “In 1958, when I was 13 years, my father used to ask me to carry blocks and other building materials to the school when it was being founded. The Ifelodun Omo Igboho owns the school and not the Baptist. It is the heritage of three different groups that Baptist Church only wants to claim. How do you think that is possible?”

Imam Bello further explained that three missions established the school. He listed the missions to be Ahmadiyya, Ansar-ul-deen, Baptist and United Missionary College, UMC. “When we wanted to apply for the building of the school at Igboho, these three missions were involved.

While the Muslims associations were in Lagos, the Baptist Church was on

ground in Igboho and so we decided to root it through the Baptist Church. Then it was named Baptist Modern School. When the modern school education was phased out around 1982, that was when the crisis started. By this time, only two buildings built by the Parents Teacher Association, PTA of the school that were on ground. Please, ask them if Baptist Church ever paid the salaries of the teachers then.

“Around this time, we renamed the school Matthew Afolabi Memorial Grammar School. This was to honour a councillor who was allegedly killed during the fracas that erupted over the school. But unfortunately, this was thwarted by one of the chairmen of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, who again changed the name to Baptist High School.”

On the joint meeting of indigenes of the town where a decision was reportedly reached that the mosque should be relocated, the Imam said there is no documentary evidence where such agreement was reached, adding that rather, they (Muslims) should be commended for being so peaceful since the crisis started in 1982. “We Muslims are not ready to fight because Igboho is our town and we won’t support anything that would bring crisis,” he said.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

EKITI STATE

Ovation, as Attah Ayede-Ekiti marks 1-yr anniversary Dignitaries from all walks of life converged on the sprawling town of Ayede-Ekiti recently to celebrate the first year coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdul-Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, Arojojoye Abolokefa IV, the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti. The monarch who had an impressive anniversary celebration also conferred chieftaincy titles on some eminent persons within and outside Ekiti State.

F

OR the people of AyedeEkiti in Oye Local Government Areas of Ekiti State, June 14, 2015 was another milestone in the history of the community.

The day was specially set aside for the one year anniversary of HRM Oba Abdul-Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti. A visitor would have mistaken the event for a meeting of first class traditional rulers and other dignitaries in the country given the calibre of attendance at the event.

But the gathering was no meeting; it was a ceremony to celebrate a distinguished monarch, Oba AbdulMumini Adebayo Orisagbemi. The weather was pleasing that morning at the Ayede Grammar School, venue of the anniversary ceremony. The sunshine depicting the season was like God giving blessing to the celebration witnessed by thousands of people.

To the people, it was a joyous occasion, and a time for merriment, wining and dining and above all a kind of re-union for all sons and daughters of Ayede at home and in the Diaspora who were at hand to celebrate with their friends and their beloved monarch.

It was an occasion to showcase the uniqueness of the community. It was a day they learnt a great deal about this “ancient but unique town” to paraphrase industrialist Chief Olawale Adeosun, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State, who was installed as the new Bobajiro (Chief of Staff) to the Attah of AyedeEkiti. The visitors learnt how togetherness and unity could pave way for meaningful development in a community.

“I am so grateful today because it is an honourable thing to be honoured in a state and town that you did not even belong to. It a thing

I personally really appreciate because coming from all the way from Abeokuta and to be honoured here in Ayede-Ekiti is a big plus,” Adeosun said Chief Adeosun, therefore, encouraged all sons and daughters of Ayede and Ekiti State in general to come home and develop the state, noting that he had been in Ekiti for good number of days, moving round within the state and discovered that what the people had done here was great.

‘There is Peaceful Coexistence in Ayede’ Speaking at the event, one of the High Chiefs of the town, Chief Kayode Adetifa, the Arole-Oba of AyedeEkiti, thanked God for the peaceful-coexistence and for making the day a reality for all sons and daughters of the community to come together and celebrate again.

In the same vein, the Chairman, Planning Committee of 1st Year Anniversary Celebration, Bishop Deji Afolabi described the ceremony as a success.

The National Vice President of Ayede Progressive Union (APU), Chief Afolayan Ige, said: “The one-year of the Attah Ayede on the throne has been wonderful because there have been various development projects, peace has been restored to Ayede Community and that is the reason, Kabiesi was able to give series of chieftaincy tittles to prominent people.”

Ige urged the people of the community to join hands with the monarch in order to usher in more development.

Commenting on those who contested with Kabiesi, Chief Olu Aare, who is the Apena of the community, advised them to sheathe their swords, adding that in every contest there must be a winner and a loser.

He urged them to surrender to the will of God and put heads together to rebuild Ayede Community for the betterment of generations yet unborn.

Oba Orisagbemi: Ayede Sons at Home, Abroad Should Come and Develop the Town Responding, the celebrant, HRM Oba Abdul-Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, Arojojoye Abolokefa IV, the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, thanked all friends and wellwishers, sons and daughters

•Olokun festival in Ayede Ekiti of Ayedeland for making the day a success. He appealed to them to make the development of the town their top priority. According to the monarch, Ayede is the place Ayede people can call their own, whatever the pleasure derived from staying in big towns and overseas, “one cannot call those places his own.

Sons and daughters of Ayede should come home to develop this town, it is our own and together we can make it better”. He lauded the organizers of the anniversary and other dignitaries for showing him genuine love. Other communities in the Southwest such as from Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo States and others within Nigeria and along the West Africa coast came to celebrate with Ayede and felicitate with Oba Orisagbemi on his 1st anniversary on the throne of

The one-year of the Attah Ayede on the throne has been wonderful because there have been various development projects, peace has been restored to Ayede Community and that is the reason, Kabiesi was able to give series of chieftaincy tittles to prominent people

•Attah of Ayede Ekiti his forefathers. Social, cultural, religious and other noble groups also graced the occasion.

Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and RTEAN Lagos and Ekiti state branches, the paramilitary outfit Man ‘O War and the Nigerian Police Force and other private security organisations were on hand to control the mammoth crowd of people who came to witness the ceremony.

Fund-raiser, Conferment of Chieftaincy Titles The highlights of the event were the fund-raiser, wherein a reasonable amount of money was realised for the community, and the conferment of chieftaincy titles by the Attah of Ayede

on some personalities who have excelled in their chosen careers.

Chief Adeosun from Abeokuta was installed the Bobajiro of Ayede, while his wife was made Yeye Bobajiro of AyedeEkiti. Also, Hon. Afolabi Olaoluwa Williams, a native of Ijero-Ekiti, was installed the new Aroba of Ayede.

Williams, who could not hold his joy, said he was very glad to be alive to receive the honour.

The grand finale was the launching of an album entitled- “Igba Otun Attah Ayede”-. It was produced by a renowned Radio/TV presenter, Alhaji Olulande Agboola. Ace fuji musician, Alhaji Sefiu Alao (Omo-oko), and his wonder bands were on hand to entertain guests at the occasion.

Roll Call of Traditional Rulers at the Event Prominent among the traditional rulers who added colour to the event were His Royal Majesty, Oba Barrister Sunday Ajiboye, the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti; HRM Alaketu of Ketu, Lagos; HRM Oluye of IyemeroEkiti; Onijara of Ijara-Isin, Kwara State, and HRM Oloba of Oba, Kwara.

THE TEAM EDITOR: Adeleke Adeseri CORRESPONDENTS: Kolade Larewaju Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Monsuru Olowoepejo Ikenna Asomba

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Abeokuta Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —33

Much ado about First Ladyship I

T is easy to like- and indeed respect- the wives of the president and the vice president. Both are naturally good looking which, according to psycologists, predisposes people to being liked, particularly if they are women.

Both are quiet but by no means bland, as they have proven themselves able to hold their own in public, and in particular when they are required to speak. Both carry themselves with clearly practiced elegance and have equally elegant daughters, who have inherited their good looks and easy affability. They are also well spoken, as well as down to earth; and are quite accustomed to the limelight such that power is unlikely to alter their outlook in any negative way.

Truth is, Aisha Buhari and Dolapo Osinbajo are generally liked by Nigerians not as much for the reasons listed above as for the following two.

First of all, the immediate past First Ladies of the Federal Republic had provided an excellent foil for them. Patience Jonathan had been as garrulous as Amina Sambo had been lacklustre, showing an ability to engage her publicly in a positive manner only after office.

•Aisha Buhari

•Iara Oshiomiole

•Patience Jonathan

beloved Jackie O, Mary somehow became a national embarrassment instead of a national icon. Examples abound in nearly every country of the world.

To throw the baby out with the bath water is however not the solution to First Lady overzealousness. The states seem to be looking at the face of the presidency, as it were, and have seemingly kept the new First Ladies under wraps but for the distinct exception of Iara Oshiomole, who could not be kept under wraps if she tried.

Positive manner Loud both in appearance as well as in articulation, the exceedingly ambitious Mrs. Jonathan had provided the perfect contrast for Aisha Buhari, whose husband had lost three previous presidential elections with her by his side.

The second reason is that their husbands, who are quite the men of the moment, had expressed intentions of downplaying the role of the First Lady once they got elected into the presidency.

What had started as politicking had been affirmed upon the swearing in of President Mohammadu Buhari, who found a way to mention that the office of the First Lady would not be funded by the presidency.

This has psychologically endeared the ladies even further to the Nigerian public, despite the initial focus on Aisha Buhari's ten thousand dollar designer watch which she had worn to the presidential inaugurations

•Bimbo Fashola

ceremonies in May. It is the same reason, in actual fact, that Lagosians had liked the esrtwhile Lagos First Lady, Abimbola Fashola, who had exhibilted copious amounts of public modesty both in dress and in speech, and is said to only wear the local ankara fabric, where her contemporaries regularly turned out in the priciest laces and designer wear.

She spoke little and graciously, turned out relatively punctually to events and actually stayed at them.

She also avoided rivalry with the women in her husband's administration, with any rumours suggestive of a tiff was usually squashed even as they raised their ugly heads.

But the fact of the matter is that First Ladies will be First Ladiesdifferent in personalities, looks and predispositions; and of course

•Amina Namadi Sambo

First Ladies will be First Ladiesdifferent in personalities, looks and predispositions; and of course talent and education

talent and education. There will be good First Ladies and there will be bad First Ladies.

There will be quiet First Ladies as the late Stella Obasanjo had been, and there will be troublesome ones like Turai Yaradua. There will be stylish ones such as the unforgetable Maryam Babangida, and there will be drab ones such as Maryam Abacha.

It must be noted that bad first ladies have not been the exclusive preserve of the Nigerian state.

The wife of one of the most notable presidents of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was recorded as having been less than modest and remains, at the very least, controversial.

Like Jacqueline Kenney, Mary (nee Todd) was indeed with her husband the moment he was shot, but unlike the

Frightening prospect It is a frighnening prospect that this might have the dire consequence of making statescraft all the more uninteresting, while a lot of the charity work that was actually done by the various First Ladies might be left undone.

The Nigerian state might be a relatively young institution, but the vibrant office of the First Lady has been a distinct part of it on the various levels.

Scapping it is altogether too clinical and will leave us a cold state.

The Nigerian First Lady might as well be a ceremonial figure, or at least become, as Time magazine recently describes the British Royal Family, the number one tourist attractions of their respective states or the Federal Capital territory.

Anything but being scrapped.

34— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

5

of the best Sandals

It’s summertime, and the best time of all to get to the pedicurist and stock up on foot lotion because you’ll be wearing plenty of sandals this vacation, if you’re lucky enough to have any.

Here’s our best five- take it as a guide…

• The embellished

• The classy

• The beautiful

• The wedge

• The flats

A

GAINST the backdrop of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a coalition of leading athletes and advocates called on policymakers and sporting organizations worldwide to increase investment in girls’ sport programs as a path to improve gender and health equality globally. The Call to Action was launched at the Girl Power in Play Symposium, hosted by global advocacy organizations Women Deliver, UNICEF, Right to Play, One Goal and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Limited opportunities “Too often, girls in poor and marginalized communities around the world face futures of limited opportunity, not to mention hardships like gender-based violence and early marriage,” said Susan Ngongi, UNICEF Country Representative to Ghana, who spoke at the Symposium. “Playing sport opens girls’ eyes –- first to their own potential, and then to all

Get more girls in the game, global leaders urged As leading athletes & advocates urge increased investment in girls’ sport to address gender and health Inequalities of the barriers they are ready to break down.”

The Symposium convened about 150 high-level policymakers, advocates, athletes and researchers to showcase the positive effects that girls’ participation in sport has on international development. Symposium plenaries and discussions reflected a growing consensus that, beyond the health benefits, sport programs provide girls with a supportive network of role models and peers, and can foster better health, education, nutrition, as well as

chance to gain critical lifeskills. “It’s inspiring—the increase in confidence that girls experience after partici-

Participants and partners issued a formal Call to Action asking decision makers from all sectors – government

pating in sport and play activities” says Elyse RuestArchambault, of Right to Play. “Sport empowers girls to see themselves as leaders and agents of change in their communities. More often than not, girls then use this newfound strength to help other girls find theirs.”

Participants and partners issued a formal Call to Action asking decision makers from all sectors – government, private, media, research and civil society – to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of girls and women to play sport. In particular, Symposi-

um participants called on stakeholders to incorporate sport programs into global and national strategies to address gender inequality; increase funding for girls’ sport programs and support research on the impact of girls’ involvement in sport, particularly on their health and equality.

“Global leaders must recognize that girls’ and women’s sport are essential to driving sustainable development, as well as health and wellbeing” said Women Deliver CEO, Katja Iversen. She said when girls are healthy, educated and empowered, they reinvest their strength and energy in their families, communities and nations.

“Now is the time to get girls off the sidelines and in the game.”

The Symposium is part of a bigger effort to shine the light on the critical role sport programs can play in improving girls’ and women’s health and rights – and the positive ripple effect they have on communities.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —35

Too many people are marrying for funny reasons —Tinuola Agbabiaka An estranged couple coincidentally attended a couples’ summit in Lagos. They had walked in separately but were already falling head over heels for one another by the end of that summit. The magical effect of that annual event was enormous, as many other marriages regained life right on the spot.

More dramatic reunions played out at its 2015 edition which held June 27th in Lagos.

The brain behind that summit, Mrs Tinuola Agbabiaka, a lawyer and UK-trained relationship expert who is coordinator, Practical Christian Living Initiative (PCLI), tells of the eight-year-old initiative that has saved hundreds of relationships and homes in this interview.

By Josephine Agbonkhese

T

ACKLING sensitive issues such as relationships and marriage can be quite complicated; what’s your strategy?

What we do is balance things.

We do not just assume it is the man or the woman that is the problem. At PCLI, we educate, teach and assist to change people’s perception about issues when it comes to relationships.

And because these days there are so many doctrines, there is a lot of hurt in the home. Look around, you must know someone who is either going through a bad relationship, has gone through a bad relationship or will go through a bad relationship.

How has your experience been so far?

The task has been tough but fulfilling because by the time someone who is into a bad relationship cries out, it has really gone deep because it is perceived a private affair.

Private affair So the first instinct is to try and shield it and manage it yourself and then when they decide to speak, they may be talking to people who would rather condemn or tell them what they are going through is nothing compared to what another person is or has gone through. And when you hear all the bad stories only, you’d almost believe that there is no good story anywhere.

What we are trying to do is to teach people to manage their relationship in such a way that it is inspiring, despite its challenges. That’s for genuine partners, anyway.

People hardly seek professional help in marriage in this part of the world; isn’t that affecting your ministry?

You’re right but that hasn’t really affected us. When PCLI was five, I clocked 40. So, I launched my book as well as got people together to testify, knowing well that with relationships, people don’t want to admit openly that they have issues. But to the glory of God, many were willing to.

I remember you had a particular couple with a dramatic experience at that anniversary, can you recall what happened?

Yes. That couple was on the verge of divorce when they attended that summit. In fact, it was the husband’s friend who invited and paid for them to attend and when they eventually came, they didn’t come together. To the glory of God, they left together at the end of that programme. They danced, participated in fun games and other activities.

Three years after, I was at a burial ceremony when a man walked up to me and said ‘thank you’. I was shocked because I didn’t know him. I later got to know it was this same man. The husband said when it was time to dance and he held his wife, he had tears in his eyes. According to him, staying out together was a start in resolving the issues they had.

Another one was a colleague at work. By the time I met him, he told me that his marriage was over. Then, we got talking at every opportunity. On my birthday, his wife and he were also there to testify.

Have you noticed divorce is on the increase even amongst couples who courted extensively...

I have, and I must say a major problem is the foundation. The Bible says: if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do? It would be nicer if things were done properly from the home. In other words, as a mother, you must teach your child the right values. And you

What we are trying to do is to teach people to manage their relationship in such a way that it is inspiring, despite its challenges.

That’s for genuine partners, anyway.

can’t teach what you don’t have. You must teach a lady what to look for in a man. Don’t marry for money. Money can’t buy love or happiness.

Another challenge is that people are getting married for various funny reasons and this goes back to haunt them later.

If someone gets married because “all her friends are getting married,” and they are not compatible, when issues start to come up, then they start to run helter skelter. But my take also is that if you have chosen to marry a person, then make the most of it and make your home habitable. For women, I always say, “a wise woman builds her home”.

It just hurts that people make silly mistakes with marriage. I recently counseled a lady who got married as a virgin and her husband gave her syphilis. He decided to treat her by himself even though he is not a doctor.

At some point, the husband was having a relationship with his own sister which she got to know about. I told her it was not time to get pregnant for such a man. The man needed a lot

•Tinuola Agbabiaka of work to be done on him through prayers and counseling. But she wouldn’t listen.

After a while, I decided not to pick her calls again. Eventually she got pregnant. I later learnt the man tried to kill the child so she had to run. Recently she called me and said people are advising her to go back and have another child with that same man so that she does not have children from different men. What sort of counseling is that? What eventually becomes of those children she would have for such a man?

And that is why this nation is the way it is. I keep saying it that for as long as we keep ignoring the family, this nation will not be made whole.

But don’t you think too much emphasis is being placed on the girl child than on her male counterpart in building the home?

The man was the first to be created but when the woman was made, she was made differently and she came with extra gifts.

Extra gifts She can reproduce, multiply and so on. On the other hand, there is a limit to what the woman can do.

Yes, there is a lot of role for the woman or the girl-child but it’s a two-way thing, which is why we are coming up with a programme targeted at young male adults. The purpose is to raise Godly husbands because there are not many out there right now. And the problem is that you can’t give what you don’t have. Who is teaching them? Who is their role model?

There are so many bad examples that even the good

ones are almost embarrassed to rise up to say the right things.

You find a man who helps his wife iron her clothes because he sees it as a duty but how many persons can he tell that to without being labeled a ‘woman-wrapper’? And a lot of times, you find out that most of the programmes out there focus on financial strength. But financial strength does not make a home otherwise all rich people will have happy homes. We have to teach our men how to be proper husbands and treat a woman well.

You find parents telling their girl-child to keep their virginity but the boy is allowed to roam with his weapon of mass destruction. They simply tell him to use a condom. Psychologically, you have told him that women are not to be valued or you can just exchange them anyhow. This is wrong.

What inspired the two issues of concern at your recent summit?

Respect for the man, as well as money management, are very key in any relationship or home.

You see, a man craves respect from his woman and the woman wants love, but the truth is, respect has to be earned.

Research has shown that a man who does the proper thing, loves his woman, treats her well, and does not abuse her, is easily respected.

The second issue, money, is the most divisive issue in the home next to sex. It comes in different dimension. You find men who are jobless these days and the woman has to become the breadwinner. What does the man do? Another scenario could be that they are both working and the woman is rising faster than the man. How do they handle it?

36— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

By Esther Onyegbula TEAM Nigeria has emerged winner in Technovation Challenge world pitch which held at San Francisco, USA. The winning team comprised of four brilliant girls: Praise DavidOku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, and Grace Akpoiroro as they developed a mobile app to tackle waste disposal challenge in Nigeria. They pitched their app called, ‘Discardious’.

Mrs. Martha Alade, Founder of WITIN and Coordinator of the program in Nigeria enthused that this years’ team was exceptional and has done Nigeria proud. Their solution solves a major problem in Nigeria.

This is the first time a Nigerian team would come first globally in Technovation World Pitch.

Grace Ihejiamaizu, an International Exchange Alumni and founder of iKapture Networks, who mentored the winning team said they faced a lot of challenges on their way to success but overcame.

64 countries participated in the competition with 380 apps submitted, 10 teams from all over the world were given the opportunity to explain their project in form of a pitch and tell their app story in a creative way. The girls also attended life-changing workshops including a networking session.

One of the team members, Praise David-Oku, who spoke

From L-R: Praise David-Oku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, Grace Akpoiroro, Grace Ihejiamaizu receiving award as 2015 global winner of Technovation Challenge at San Francisco, USA

Four brilliant Nigerian girls win 2015 Global Technovation Challenge for the team, said the competition has totally changed their views of technology. “It has given our team a platform to use technology to solve problems in our community. It has also motivated us to think outside the box. It has boosted my self-confidence and helped me build new relationships and networking skills. I have met new people from different parts of the world

and shared ideas. It has also made me realize that I am not too young to start achieving my goals.

Sonam, one of the team members said: “It was wonderful, tough and very competitive. It was challenging for us, as we met and listened to people from different parts of the world tell their stories and share their powerful ideas. Above all, we learnt a lot of things

about coding, networking and public speaking. It was a very wonderful experience. She emphasized that Parents should enrol their girls in computer programmes at a tender age. Provide technology gadgets for use at home. Allow and encourage them to participate in technology competitions and programs. Encourage them to pick and study science related courses

The team unanimously professed that this is only the beginning of something big.

“We are going to empower, build and guide young girls to participate in the next Technovation competition. We will launch our app and work on our project to solve pressing challenges in Nigeria. Technovation in Nigeria has come to stay for good”.

Nigerian readers are natural leaders — Victoria Abraham zLaunches new book, Hope on the go

By Anino Aganbi

W

ITH a lot of people believing in reading today, the age old tale of hiding things in a book from a black man and him not finding it, no longer holds true as a lot of black people have now inculcated the habit of reading. Mrs. Victoria praise Abraham is one of those who seems to have come a long way through her writings. Believing in her abilities to impact the lives of many through her books, she has made it possible for even the younger generations. She has successfully written three books that are being read by people within an outside Nigeria. In a book reading on her new book called ‘ Hope on the go’, she successfully put to paper a lot of words to motivate and encourage others. Although she does not write fiction, she has

Mrs Victoria Praise Abraham

streamlined her writings to fit in with everyday living and does not like being put in a box where her creativity is concerned.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Victoria Praise Abraham stated that “The event of the day was a very dear one to my heart

L-R: Mrs Victoria Praise Abraham and Anisha present during the book reading at Lagos. as it gives me an opportunity to discuss the writing of my third book titled “Hope on the go” to everyone present and it also creates an avenue to meet, listen and better understand the book being read. Till date I have written three books but this book

would be the first one I am using this platform for. I believe everyone is a book reader and lover and this is why this gathering is a special one.

She further stated that “Readers are natural leaders and I believe that this

experience will leave us with wonderful memories.

Reading from the book, Anisha, a teenager who showed her vast interest in being an avid reader read a few interesting quotes from the book that greatly motivated the crowd.

Still speaking at the event, Mrs. Abraham also stated that based on the production of the second book titled the tiny big first step which was on procrastination she saw it as a big problem which a lot of people face at different points in their lives. “Although I knew I was going to be great, I didn’t achieve that because of the thief called procrastination.

“The beautiful thing about Hope on the go was that it was written over an eight years period. It started out as just writing bursts of wisdom down on a piece of paper. I never knew it would become a book but made sure I wrote them and kept them to myself. I thank God that today, it is a book that is not just being read but is also enjoyed”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015—37

Crisis in Edo APC as members accuse chairman of acting PDP script

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—A leadership crisis is brewing in Edo State All Progressives Congress, APC, as some party members have accused the state chairman of the party, Mr Anslem Ojezua, of alleged high handedness and insincerity in running the affairs of the party in the state.

The members, in a petition to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, alleged that the chairman was acting the script of his close friends, Chief Tom Ikimi and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who were in the APC before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While also alleging that it was as a result of his alleged activities to factionalise the state executive of the party that resulted in the absence of the Vice Chairman (Edo Central) of the party, Chief Henry Okoror and that of the chairman himself, when Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon was received into the party last weekend, the party members added that the monthly

Magege mends fences with UPU

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—AS the disagreement which erupted between the Urhobo political class and the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, eases out, the immediate past Chairman of Delta State Waste Management Board, Chief Olori Magege, has reconciled with the Urhobo nation Magege was among prominent Urhobo politicians ostracised by the leadership of the UPU for allegedly working against the interest of the Urhobo nation in the 2015 general elections.

At the in-laws condolence visit of the family of the President General of UPU, Chief Joe Omene to the family of late Chief Edwin Odjegba, the UPU’s helmsman and Magege put their differences behind them and engaged in a spontaneous warm embrace.

The Omenes are in-laws of the Odjegba family to which Magege belongs.

The crowd applauded in admiration of the duo, as no one expected the UPU President General to attend the ceremony.

“I am loyal to you my inlaw” Omene told Magege, who in his response said “Sir, I am loyal to UPU.” C M Y K

allowances of some members of the exco of the party since the inception of the new exco, had not been remitted to them by the chairman, which according to them had made it difficult for the party to operate maximally.

But reacting, Ojezua described the allegations as unfounded, saying: “There is no crack in my exco. We have been working

harmoniously as a team and I don’t know what they are talking about. Imansuagbon and I met. I met him in private and I am aware of the defection and you know that a thing like that, he will like to start from home and I think that was why he did that from his ward.

“Besides, remember that it was also that weekend that we

chairmen of APC met with our President, Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. So, there was no way I could have been there. On the issue of Ize-Iyamu, it is only a fool that will believe that I am playing Ize-Iyamu’s script in the APC. Ize-Iyamu has his own political beliefs of how he wants to do his things. And his wants are not the same like mine at this point in time."

ECOWAS SPCC MEETING: From left: Representative of the Chief Registrar of ECOWAS Court, Mrs Hajara Onoja; Vice President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Toga Mc Intosh and Director of Strategic Planning, ECOWAS Commission, Mr Essien Abel Essien, at the 10th meeting of the Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee, SPCC, in Lagos.

Security threat in N-Delta over non-payment of amnesty allowances

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—EXMILITANT leaders in the Niger Delta region, yesterday, raised fresh alarm over alleged cases of disenchantment and threats to the existing peace accord by some aggrieved youths over the delay by the Federal Government to pay allowances and tuition fees to beneficiaries of the Amnesty deal within and outside the country.

The concerned ex-militant leaders, led by Pastor Rueben Wilson, said though series of complaints had been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari over the deplorable condition of amnesty beneficiaries in Europe, America and South Africa without response, reports available showed that the delay in payment was throwing up security issues and dangerous disenchantment among the ex-militant youths.

The ex-militant leaders, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said that the alert sent to the President was to draw his attention to the issues in the region and the urgent need to address the issues within the Presidential Amnesty office.

The statement reads: “Worst of their situation is the

unpredictability of when their nightmare will end while hunger and deprivation have put them in a very bad state of mind. Your Excellency, you will recall that this programme had within the last few years brought relative stability to our region and by extension, this

country.

“This we owe to late President Umaru Yar ’Adua, who in his wisdom proclaimed amnesty for ex-agitators and drew a plan of action towards ensuring lasting peace in the region through various training programmes."

A-Ibom First Lady laments teenage pregnancies Addressing female nonBy Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—WIFE of Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, has expressed worry over the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy and involvement of young people in anti-social behaviours in the state and the country as a whole.

indigenes resident in the state comprising of Arewa Consultative Forum, Igbo Community, Niger Delta States and Oduduwa People’s Congress, yesterday, in her office, Mrs Emmanuel reminded them that mothers have a major responsibility in ensuring proper upbringing of their children.

S-South women congratulate Agas

By Tare Youdeowei

S

OUTH-South Women Organisation, an association of women of the south south region resident in Lagos, has congratulated Festus Ovie Agas on his appointment as the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, of Delta State.

In a statement by Chief Vikie Djevwudu, President, the group described Agas’

appointment as one of the best things to happen in the new administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“Agas has carved a niche for himself in Delta State politics over the years and has distinguished himself as a leader in various capacities.

His appointment is, therefore, a well deserved one as it is a result of hard work, diligence, resourcefulness and focus,” the group remarked.

Sapele Burma Boys to reconcile feuding politicians

By Godwin Oghre

S

APELE—Sapele Burma Boys, a social group in Sapele, Delta State, has vowed to resolve all disputes among political leaders in the area.

The decision was reached at the inaugural meeting of the group when a two-man ad-hoc committe was constituted with Mr Chamberlain Akarue as Chairman, and Chief Hudson Ororho as Secretary.

The group appealed to all politicians who are involved in one form of acrimony or another to sheathe their swords for the overall benefit of the area.

Other members of Sapele Burma Boys, at the inaugural meeting include Mr. Monday Igbuya, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Justice Arthur Omamogho, Chief Godwin Asudo, Mrs. Oti Agoba, Chief Faith Gbagi, Iroronetaye Clarke, Chief Egigba Jeo, Mr Ebbah Friday and Mrs. Phina Scerri.

Others were, Oghene Beke, Erakporonweke, Charles Ayulsede, Molore Gitores, Elder Kay Mene, Kenneth Etchie, Chief Audrew Ikrechero, Moore Ologitere, Mike Agbamu, Mac Olomu, Isreal Ameh and Wilfred Erewa.

ACCIOBA elects Exco

A

NNUNCIATION Catholic College Irrua Old Boys Association, ACCIOBA, has elected officials to run its affairs for the next two years.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr. Akhuetie Ehimen, said that the election produced Dr Frank Odafen, as President; Professor Don Omoike, Vice-President; Victor Inedia, General Secretary, and Dr. M. Ighalo as Financial Secretary.

Others are Mr. A. Okodugha, Treasurer, Mr Eric Edewede, Assistant General Secretary and Akhuetie Felix Ehimen as Public Relations Officer.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

EROSION: Imo

BOKO HARAM PRISONERS: Markets shut again in Anambra, as Obiano, NSA’s rep parley

Speaker pleads for Nekede people

...Protest spreads to Enugu ...as 177 elders urge relocation from Ekwulobia

By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka; Austin Ogwuda, Enugu; Francis Igata & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

A

WKA—FOR the second time in 13 days, all the major markets in Anambra State were, yesterday, shut by the leadership of the traders in protest against the relocation of 47 Boko Haram detainees to Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

Also yesterday, all markets in Enugu including the multi-billion naira Ogbete main market, Kenyatta market and Gariki market were shut down in compliance with directive from the South East Amalgamated Traders Association.

The Enugu traders, having locked up their shops were, however, unable to march to the streets as demonstrated by some of their members within the South East region due to the water-tight security mounted in and around the markets and strategic places in the city.

Yesterday’s closure of the markets came on the heels of a high powered security meeting in Awka between Governor Wilie Obiano and an official from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, on the possible withdrawal of the Boko Haram detainees from Anambra.

Also yesterday, the presidents’ general of the 177 communities in the state issued a statement describing as shocking and embarrassing the news that the Nigeria Prisons Service had transferred some detainees of the dreaded suspected terrorists to Ekwulobia.

Many traders from outside

Anambra State, who arrived Onitsha early to make their purchases, were taken aback when the traders’ security operatives informed them that all the markets in the South East geopolitical zone were closed down to drive home their opposition to the relocation of the Boko Haram suspects to Anambra State.

Some of the Onitsha traders, who were unaware of the closure, came early to open their shops, but were turned back by the market security personnel.

The closure, however, did not affect those trading on the streets as they were doing their businesses unmolested.

In Awka however, some traders initially tried to challenge security operators for forcing them to close the markets, but order was restored after some heated arguments and they allowed them to display their wares.

The president of Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Okwudili Ezenwankwo later led other officials to Ekwulobia where they were expected to march through the streets.

Meanwhile, Governor Obiano hinted after the meeting with a representative of the National Security Adviser that the Boko Haram detainees would soon be withdrawn from Anambra State.

The meeting, which was also attended by officials of the Nigeria Prison Service, security personnel, as well as other stakeholders, including market leaders, religious leaders, community leaders, youth and women leaders, was held behind closed door.

Obiano explained after the meeting that the stakeholders frowned at the deployment of

the detainees, arguing that the development had injected fear in the minds of the people of the state.

According to the governor, having been intimated with the facts on ground, the visitor promised to inform the appropriate authorities of his findings, adding that there was therefore hope that the detainees would be taken out of Anambra State soon.

He assured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to securing their lives and property and urged them to remain calm as the matter was being resolved.

Also rising from their meeting in Awka, the presidents’ general of the various communities in the state said: “We believe with every sense of responsibility that transferring these violent religious bigots and fundamentalists to Ekwulobia, was ill-conceived, ill-considered, grossly insensitive, condemnable and therefore totally unacceptable.

“In the recent past, Igbo people living in Northern Nigeria were deliberately and viciously attacked, and those who were lucky to be alive, were financially and mentally traumatized and

wrecked,

having

been

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Acho Ihim, has raised alarm that unless something was done fast by the state government, the natural disaster currently threatening the Old Nekede Road may claim precious lives.

Chief Ihim, who made the passionate call while speaking during the Assembly’s plenary, was also of the view that the devastating gully would continue to threaten Nekede community and users of the road, especially now that the rains are getting heavier.

Initiating the motion earlier, the member for Owerri West state constituency, Mr. Victor Onyewuchi , lamented that the disaster was seriously threatening to cut off the Old Nekede Road.

According to Onyewuchi, “the rampaging gully is putting those living in Nekede community and road users in perpetual danger.”

He appealed to the government through the State Assembly, to urgently do something to avert further damage to the road.

displaced from their area of domicile and means of livelihood.

“The Ekwulobia prison is a minimum security prison located in the middle of a densely populated community, surrounded by tertiary institutions, and therefore grossly inadequate for such inmates of high security risks.

“There is no military presence in case of the recurrent emergence of prison-breaks associated with the Boko Haram insurgents. This is in flagrant disregard of prison conventions and best practices worldwide.

“The courts in Anambra State have no jurisdiction to try them for offences committed outside the state since these Boko Haram detainees have not been tried and convicted and should therefore, be classified as awaiting trial men.

“The lives of the Boko Haram detainees could also be at grave risk and endangered because of the likelihood of reprisal or revenge attack by family members of the victims of Boko Haram insurgents in the Northern part of Nigeria," they said.

JUSUN calls off strike in Enugu

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE strike action embarked upon by the Enugu State Judiciary Staff Union, JUSUN, for six months has been called off.

Speaking to Enugu State Government House Correspondents after the leadership of the union’s four-

hour discussion with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, the Chairman of the Union, Mr. Chinedu Mba called on all members to resume work with immediate effect.

In his words: “The strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union Enugu State is hereby suspended.

I am calling on workers to resume work immediately.”

The chairman expressed gratitude to God that after the discussion with Ugwuanyi on the way forward to resolve the issue between the state government and the judiciary, they successfully achieved their aim.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is your view on Synagogue’s indictment by coroner?

T

hey are all forming ac tivity. Nobody is going to prosecute SCOAN. The judge was a fair and fearless judge, apt and straight to the point.

Highly impressive recommendations. Kudos to the judge! -Miss Tope Johnsen, Businesswoman C M Y K

N

obody is surprised.

Was it not said that the Holy Spirit designed the building and it was being constructed under His direction? If the right thing was done, probably, this disaster would not have happened. -Mr. Ibe Nnoke, Worker

J

udgement had been given, let us see government action. The judge exposed what is going on in our society, most people do not have building permit, not to talk of engineering detail. Mr. Victor Adaramola, Businessman

I

s this the first building collapse that will involve lives, what did government do in time past on similar cases? Let the recommendations given by the coroner on the bottlenecks of building permits and sundry issues relating to it be put right. -Mrs. Mgbemena Nnenna, Self Employed

I

wonder why some people think they can hoodwink others in the name of religion. The building collapse was a tragedy and I feel for the victims as well as their own. By the way, isn’t the Synagogue located in the airport area? Mrs. Florence Jaiyeola, Teacher

H

ow did the magistrate arrive at the conclusion that the aircraft was not the cause of the collapse when the pilot of the aircraft was never summoned for interrogation during the whole proceeding at the court? -Mr. Chuks Madueke, IT Specialist

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 39

Police arrest 60-year-old man, another for allegedly kidnapping six teenagers in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—BAUCHI State Police Command, yesterday said it arrested a 60yea-old man and a middle- aged man for allegedly kidnapping six

Customs move against smuggling of frozen chicken, turkey, others

teenagers in Bauchi State.

The suspects, alongside four others still at large, were said to have kidnapped the teenagers in Pali village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Bauchi State Command, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement said the suspects demanded N6 million ransom before releasing the victims.

He said the Police had

however rescued one of the teenagers.

According to him: “On June 29, 2015 at about 17:00hrs (5pm), unknown gunmen numbering about six, kidnapped six teenagers at Pali village in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State to an unknown destination. Suspects later demanded for six million Naira (N6,000,000. 00) ransom through phone call before they will release the victims.

“Since then, discreet

investigation led to the arrest of two suspects namely: Alhaji Isa Ya’u, male, (60) of Mai Ari in Alkaleri LGA and Mamman Madi, male, (25) of Yelo village, Alkaleri LGA. So far, police rescued one victim, Shema Danji, male, (12) of same address while effort is on to liberate others and get the fleeing suspects arrested.”

DSP Mohammed said two handsets with the contact GSM numbers were recovered from the suspects.

By Ifeyinwa Obi

N

IGERIA Customs Service, NCS and stakeholders in the poultry business have launched operation “Hawk Descend” to checkmate the activities of smugglers of frozen chicken, turkey and other poultry products.

Speaking during the launch of the special operation at the Seme border, the Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, said the operation Hawk Descend would be conducted in South Western border covering Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States for an initial period of three months (July to September 2015).

The Customs boss, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement, Musa Tahir, said the operation, with objective to achieve national food security and protection of the economy against saboteurs, would have zero tolerance for smuggling of frozen poultry products.

AFC to develop $120m Singrobo hydro power plant in Cote d’Ivoire

A

FRICA Finance Corporation (AFC), a leading investment grade rated multilateral developmental finance institution and project developer, has announced the signing of a joint development agreement with Ivoire Hydro Energy SA (IHE), an Ivoran project company, for the development of the 44MW Singrobo hydro-electric power plant in Cote d’Ivoire.

APC has been appointed as a co-project developer and financier and will work with other developers to complete detailed technical studies, finalize the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), participate in procuring the engineering, and construction contractor, lead the processes for preparing project costs, and oversee the final environmental and social impact assessment studies.

C M Y K

CONFERENCE: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) discussing with the Director-General, National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, during the South-East stakeholders’ conference on the Pension Reform Act, 2014, at the Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu…yesterday.

PDP tackles firm in court over N70m election expenses

By Innocent Anaba

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has filed its defence to the suit by a firm, Silon Concepts Limited, which is praying an Abuja High Court in Kuje, to compel the party to pay N70 million for the services it rendered during the 2015 presidential campaign.

The plaintiff (Silon Concepts) sued the PDP, its former National Chairman, Ahmadu Alli and the former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman over the alleged refusal of the defendants to pay for the said services.

Alli was the Director General of the 2015 PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, while Usman, who was also a former Senator in the 7th National Assembly, served as the Director of Finance of the campaign organisation.

However, a mild drama played out at the resumed hearing in the matter, yesterday, when the PDP, in its statement of defence affirmed the membership of

Alli and Usman, but denied authorizing them to carry out multi-billion transactions they were personally involved in before and after the presidential election.

The party also denied authorizing Alli and Usman to

carry out the multi billion naira transactions, adding that it had nothing to do with the Jointrust Dimension Nig. Ltd’s Zenith Bank Plc account number 1010740698, for which billions of naira went through and Senator Usman is the sole signatory.

Benue Assembly confirms 13 commissionernominees

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—THE Benue State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed the list of 13 Commissioner nominees sent to it by Governor Samuel Ortom.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Bem Abunde, said among those confirmed yesterday were; Mr. Michael Gusa, (Gwer), Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Vandeikya), Dr. Tersoo Kpelai (Ukum), Mr. James Anbua (Logo) and Engr. Nicolas Wende (Kwande).

Others were, Mrs. Mwuese Mnyim (Makurdi), Mr. Emmanuel Manger (Tarka), Mr. Sekav Iortyom (Buruku), Mr. John Onoja and Dr. Cecilia Ojabo (Okpokwu).

The list also includes, Mr. Lawrence Onoja (Jnr), (Ohimini), Mr. David Olofu, (Apa), and Ode Agi from Obi local government area.

Urhobo College OSA meets

U

RHOBO College Old Students Association, UCOSA, Lagos branch will hold its monthly general meeting on Sunday, July 12, at White House Hotel and Conference Center, Ikeja by 4 pm. All former students of the school living in Lagos are expected to invite others as they come.

BAILOUT: NLC directs councils to monitor disbursement of fund by governors

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

N

IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, led by Ayuba Wabba, yesterday in Abuja, said it had directed its state councils across the country to monitor the disbursement and utilization of the intervention fund released by the Federal Government to states to enable them pay backlog of salaries owed civil servants.

Congress urged the state councils not to hesitate to report any case of misapplication of the fund to Congress for immediate response.

The faction in a statement by its

General Secretary, Dr. Peter OzoEson, commended the Federal Government for releasing intervention fund to the states, saying “this intervention, no doubt, is a gesture that will go a long way in enabling the states to discharge their obligations to the citizenry.”

According to the statement “It will be recalled that in our submission to the Presidential Transition Committee, we had made the point that the President needed to intervene in resolving the issue of back-log of salaries. We are happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has made this happen. We are all the more happy that this intervention applies to all, and not

only the states that are owing workers as this would have been tantamount to rewarding profligacy. To this extent, the intervention could be appropriately viewed within the prism of legitimacy and normal duty of sharing.

“It is worth pointing out that it is one thing to disburse funds to the States, it is another thing to ensure that the funds are appropriately applied. In light of this, we would wish to invite Mr. President to bring the full weight of his office to bear on the governors in order to ensure that the funds disbursed are applied as of priority to the payment of the full arrears of salaries and pensions owed

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

C M Y K

FUTA'S 70TH INAUGURAL: From left— Dr. Modupe Ajayi, Registrar; Professor Akeem Rabiu, Director of Nigeria’s Centre for Atmospheric Research and professor of Space Physics; Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor; and Professor Tolulope Akinbogun, all of Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, shortly after Rabiu delivered FUTA's 70th inaugural lecture entitled Terrestrials and Extra-terrestrials: Divine Nexus for Man’s Comfort.

GRADUATION: From left— Mrs. Loretta Ikuenobe; Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) Special Guest of Honour and immediate past governor of Lagos State; Mr. Paskar Nadu; and his wife, Lynda, at the 15th graduation of the Lagoon School at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

ELA 2015: Mr. Kola Aina, Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Platforms (middle); Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia (2nd left), and other guest at the 10th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training, ELA 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

DJ CUPPY: From left— Elizabeth Shobowale, DJ Cuppy's Brand Manager; DJ Cuppy; Lolade Fadoju, Deputy Manager, Communication and External Affairs, GTBank, and Damola Adeniyi, representative of Dangote Foundation, at a briefing on Cuppy Takes Africa tour, in Lagos. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

IBTC/VISA: From left— Kehinde Adekeye, Director, Marketing, West Africa; Oluwatoyin Badeji, Business Development Manager, both of VISA; Ademola Adeniran, Head, Cards, Stanbic IBTC; Onyemenam Daniel, Deputy Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC); and Menye Henrietta, Assistant Manager, NLRC, at the Stanbic IBTC/VISA Gold Credit Card promo draws in Lagos.

ROAD TO MAMA: From left— Sola Oke, Marketing Director; Adebola Williams, Senior Brand Manager, Premium, and Olivier Fages, Managing Director, all of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, during the Road to MAMA 2015 event, supported by Absolut Vodka, in Lagos.

ON XENOPHOBIA: From left— Professor Tayo Adesina, Professor Isaac Albert and Professor Dele Layiwola, Director Institute of African Studies, during a discussion on Xenophobia: Beyond the South African Imaginary, organised by the institute in Ibadan. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

KIDS CAN COOK: From left— Mrs. Regina Ango, wife of FOC, Western Naval Command; Osuolale Omowunmi of Mountain Top Secondary School, winner, and Mr. Ganiyi Azeez, Head LPG, Oando Marketing Plc, at the just-concluded June edition of Teens Can Cook competition, part of the drive to encourage teenagers to embrace culinary skills with the use of cleaner cooking gas.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 41

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Six washing ways with one LG machine

BY LAJU IREN

L

Everything sells, some charity saves!

OLX donates to the blind

By Juliet Ebirim

T

RUTH be told, online companies make a lot of money. The beauty of ordering for items and receiving them in the comfort of your home at the click of a button could be appealing to the customer, and profit making to the business as well. However, not every business gives back to the community.

But online exchange platform, OLX, chose to stand out from the crowd when it recently made a charitable donation of N746,000 to the Pacelli School for the Blind. The fund was raised by the OLX Gives Back initiative in partnership with Dan Foster and Olisa Adibua.

The two On-Air Personalities sold items on OLX and proceeds from sale

of the items were doubled by OLX and donated to a charity of their choice.

Speaking at the event, the OLX country manager, Lola Masha said “We are the number one classified site in Nigeria and we recognize the importance of supporting our local communities.”

Radio personality, Dan Foster said he joined the OLX Gives Back Campaign because it is important for Nigerians to know that items that are no longer needed at home can be traded for cash and used for a good cause.

For Olisa Adibua “I was able to sell my TV, wrist watches and other stuff to folks who bought them on OLX at a very good deal and I get to support Pacelli where visually impaired children go to school for free”.

Expressing her gratitude towards OLX and the radio personalities for their generous donation, the principal Pacelli School for the Blind, Rev. Sis Agnes Onwudiwe said “We rely on generous donations like these to keep the school going and we are very grateful to OLX for this initiative”.

The OLX Gives Back Campaign began in 2014, with fellow on-air personalities Manny, of Cool FM & Wazobia FM’s Yaw donating to the Modupe Cole Foundation, The Down Syndrome Foundation, Bethesda Home for the Blind and the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy for early cancer testing.

G’s new 6-Motion Direct Drive washing machines allows the drum to tailor each load from a combination of 6 unique motions: rolling, stepping, swinging, scrubbing, filtration and tumbling unlike the one motion— tumbling, available in most front-load washers. The LG direct drive technology has over time raised the bar for washing machines.

With six ways to wash, the LG 6 Motion washing machine’s Direct Drive enable users choose the one that is right for them. Beside the established Tumble which is the standard turn washing machine motion in most washing machines, LG 6 Motion comes with five additional motions for specialized laundry care. So it’s more effective, yet kinder, too.

There is the Scrub- Intensive – as water is supplied to the LG 6 Motion washer, the combination of scrub motion and the waved lifters create a figure – 8 shape and a ‘trough’ of water helping to dissolve powder detergent better and faster. Rolling: Silent Wash – this wash ensures laundry is rolled below the water level, creating more friction with the inner drum and is less damaging to clothes. Swing: Delicates – the soft swing of the LG 6 Motion washing machine has a heart shaped motion that washes laundry below the water line. For Filtration: Perfect Spray –a combination of spinning and spray from the water shower forms the filtration movement; it soaks the laundry faster and more evenly.

Stepping: Wrinkle Care – designed to rotate the drum, stopping clothes from getting stuck to the inner drum after spinning, which is common in conventional washing machines which only moves in one direction and won’t allow clothes to drop easily. The action of rotating and stopping repeatedly in the LG Six Motion washing 6 G L • machine prevents washing e wrinkles. in h mac

Sony Xperia hits market again with LMD as Sole distributor

S

ONY Mobile Communications says it’s targeting the top spot of the Nigerian mobile market again. This time around with innovative range of Xperia smartphones that would soon be released into the market.

To underscore its seriousness, the smartphone maker has appointed digital equipment distributors, Let Me Distribute, LMD as new sole distributor for the Nigerian market.

Although the two companies signed the agreement last year, Sony Mobile says LMD will now

be the only authorized distributors for Sony Mobile Xperia Range of Smartphones and tablets.

In the same vein, the company has also entrusted Ensure Services with the responsibility of taking care of all after-sales services for all Xperia products.

Announcing the deal, Sony Mobile Communications Country Manager Nigeria, Mr Younes Cherkaoui, said: “We are very happy to partner with Let Me Distribute as our only authorized partner for the very vast Nigerian market and we are confident that

they have what it takes to service the needs of all our customers across the Nigerian market.

“LMD has a very good knowledge of the Nigerian market and has the capacity to cover the whole market”.

Meanwhile, he revealed that Sony Mobile continue to unveil latest innovations and avail Nigerians the opportunity to own latest Xperia models and technology at affordable costs.

Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading

global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets.

Through its Xperia smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile has released the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony’s world of networked entertainment experiences to many Nigerian consumers

•Xperia smartphone

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Five Nigerians whose tweets you don’t want to miss

By LAJU IREN

W

ith about 302 million people on twitter, you can’t possibly follow everyone.

But these statistics prove that these five Nigerians just might be worth your click. (@obyzeks) Earlier this year, @Time Magazine named Nigerian political activist and writer ObiageliEzekwesili as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her activism and writing has gotten her worldwide renown and accolades. With her 310,000 followers on Twitter, she is constantly reaching out to them, advocating for various campaigns and speaking on current affairs.

ToluOgunlesi (@ToluOgunlesi) a wellknown Nigerian journalist, writes on a number of areas.

His treatises on politics, journalism, and philosophy

are keenly followed by his 132,000 followers. His work has been published in different magazines, newspapers, and journals all over the world and recently won the CNN African Journalist of the year 2013.

and the globe.

KayodeOgundamisi (@Ogundamisi) is a commentator on Nigerian and International affairs with constant support and adoration from his 126,000 followers on Twitter. He is known for his ability to write for major Nigerian Media outlets and for his active nature on social media.

Get inspired by Nigerian writers on Twitter - you never know who you might in turn inspire!

FeyiFawehinmi (@DoubleEph) is one of Nigeria’s most prolific commentators. His 148,000 followers are often treated to his opinions on a range of topics, including breaking news, sports, and politics.

JJ Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) shares his thoughts on politics and economic developments with his 228,000 followers. He is known to be the one of the young voices in Nigeria that drives social change through social media His views on socio-political matters has earned him spots on many discussion panels across the nation,

Could Cybersynch be the solution to data loss?

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

More often than not, when you lose a mobile device, you aren’t just worried about the device itself but the data on it. You wonder how you will get all your contacts, memos, photos, downloads...your entire life back!

Depending on the brand of your device, there are opportunities to back up your data. But not all devices provide that luxury.

However, a new innovation by CyberSynch, which works

with any phone and 98% of operating systems, is about to change that.

The company, which prides itself as a leader in universal data synchronization, says that the service will provide the much needed storage and protection of user data in case of loss, theft or malfunction of a mobile phone.

CEO of Cybersynchs, Amos Winbush said: “Our partnership with the consumers across Nigeria is ground breaking. Nigeria’s vast network and exceptional brand give us the opportunity to support Africa’s most populous network swiftly and with consumer confidence.

We look forward to providing customers with our unique data service, which we believe is much-needed in this digital age.”

The service, which has been available since the first week of July can be accessed at www.cybersynchs.com, and is available on iOS, Windows, Blackberry and Android devices.

Cybersynch will allow users to synch their most common types of data-contacts, photos, videos, calendar entries, text messages, GPS location and moreto the web over the air.

Storage plans are available in 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB and can be billed monthly, bimonthly, biannually or yearly.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Access Bank emerges Best Flow House in Africa

A

CCESS Bank Plc has emerged winner of the Best Flow House in Africa in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2015, which held at the Natural History Museum in London, yesterday.

It is the first time an African bank will be recognised as winner of this award, which was in recognition of the bank’s increasing transaction flows across Africa.

According to Euromoney, the award is given to honour firms that have demonstrated an ability to excel across the region in the key areas of foreign exchange, equities, rates and credit.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said: “We are delighted to be presented with this highly coveted award. It is an attestation of the bank’s determination to be the world’s most respected African bank by 2018.”

Wigwe assured that the bank will sustain its growth momentum, while noting that the award is an honour not only for Access Bank, but for Nigeria.

‘Carnival ‘ll rebrand Warri’

W

A R R I — PROMOTERS of the Warri Carnival 2015 has said the event, which is scheduled for November, will re-brand the city and correct the impression that Warri is a city of touts.

Mr. Sunny Nikoro, Promoter of the carnival, said plans were in full gear to host the carnival and that Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, sponsors of the event, has released some funds towards realising the Warri dream.

He called on Warri residents and the various ethnic nationalities to be prepared to host the world.

He said: “Warri is not a dustbin, our gutters are not toilets or containers for pure water sachet and the streets are not for trading. We must re-brand Warri.”

VISIT: From left— (front row) Dr. Victor Amadi, General Manager; Mr. Femi Akingbade, Executive Secretary, both of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; Dr. Peju Adenusi; Dr. Jonathan Eke, General Manager, both of Hygeia Community Health Insurance, HCHI, and others, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Ilorin.

NNPC, others defy DPR's directive, sell petrol above N100/ltr

By Clara Nwachukwu & Ediri Ejoh

D

ESPITE warnings by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to marketers to desist from arbitrary pump price increase of fuel, a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, outlet at Amuwo, Festac area of Lagos State is selling petrol at N100 per litre.

The NNPC outlet joined others, including Conoil, Oregun Road; Total, Amukoko Alaba; Mobil, Festac; Capital Oil, Ago, Olufemi Arowolo, Iyana-Iba and a host of others, which have stock of the scarce commodity, also sold above regulated price of N87 per litre.

These outlets are selling petrol at between N100 and N120 per litre, depending on the outlet and location.

The petroleum industry regulator, DPR, at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, warned depot operators and marketers against arbitrary increase in the ex-depot and pump prices of petrol, by taking advantage of the current scarcity situation.

DPR had cautioned operators still engaged in the practice of selling petrol and kerosene above government stipulated prices as well as “those who engage in the acts of hoarding of these products to desist from it in the interest of the public, the economy and your petroleum business.”

Acting Director, DPR, Mr. Danteni Ladan, who issued the warning, said that the regulator will no longer tolerate a situation where the supply of petrol was dictated by dealers and marketers’ private interests to the detriment of the Nigerians.

He said DPR will sanction such operators, including the withdrawal of licence of any

found selling above the recommended price prescribed by the Federal Government.

On PSF

He further said: “In the last few months, the nation has experienced epileptic supply of fuel, which has reflected in the sale of this product above official pump price. We have evidence to buttress this.

“We find this trend unacceptable given that marketers with whom we have constantly interacted have benefited from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF. “This PSF has enabled marketers to operate their businesses at a level that should guarantee constant and uninterrupted supply of products. Our interaction with you has been quite cordial and collaborative in ensuring uninterrupted supply of petroleum in particular to the Nigerian public at governmentapproved price.”

However, NNPC’s spokesman, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, neither picked his call nor

responded to a text message to his phone line on the development. But the corporation’s Retail Department promised to close down such outlets found selling above the prescribed pump price.

NNPC, MOMAN helpless

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, said its members were doing their best to make the product available at the regulated price, but cannot monitor all activities in some outlets, particularly those in the outskirts.

Alegbe, responding to another text message on efforts being made to ease the scarcity situation, had asked oil marketers to support NNPC’s efforts by also importing petroleum products, since allocations for third quarter had been approved.

He had asked: “Why are the marketers not bringing in products when they already have the third quarter allocations? They should not rely on NNPC’s so-called little stock to go round.

“NNPC is only entitled to

No retiree died queuing for entitlements—SPDC

S

HELL Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, has reacted to Vanguard’s report of a retiree of Shell who died while queuing for payment, saying it was not aware of any death by a pensioner while queuing for his pension or other entitlements.

In a statement yesterday, SPDC said: “We wish to clarify that the Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited does not require any of its pensioners to queue up for pension payments.”

Shell also said that the person quoted as the Media Relations Manager of the company, Western Division, is neither known to the organisation nor does he have such position in SPDC. It, however, acknowledged the existence of a pending suit between the company and 26 persons listed in the publication over alleged unpaid entitlements, adding “we cannot make any further comment on the litigation as the matter is subjudice.”

supply 50 percent of the products.

The other 50 percent are meant to be supplied by oil marketers.

Where is their supply?”

While calling on members of the public to refrain from panic buying, he said the corporation had petrol stock in its coastal depots in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar, besides the stock it holds in the national strategic reserves.

MOMAN, while waiting on the Federal Government to fulfil its promise to pay oil marketers for their outstanding claims, also criticised Alegbe for his comments.

According to the MOMAN scribe, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, “Alegbe is not an importer and as such does not understand the dynamics of the market.”

Okolugbo advocates economic adjustment

T

HE Commissioner representing Ndokwa on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has called on the people of Delta State to start re-adjusting their priorities in the face current economic realities in the country.

He said when Delta Beyond Oil was being introduced, its meaning was lost on many, but that with oil earnings coming to half its former price, “it had become imperative to cut our coats according to our cloth and not size.”

He said the urgent need for a raise in the internally generated revenue and seeking other sources of income, outside earnings from oil, has become necessary.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 —45

46— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Ho w tto o bid Ramadan deser ving How deserving farewell

A

Ramadan 23, 1436 A.H.

Lailatul-Qadr, a great honour to Muslims

W

HEN we say Ramadan is a month of endless blessings, it is based not only based on the inviolability of the promise of Allah but also individual evaluation on the relationship with God, man and other creatures. This month, we all strive to get closer to God, the Creator through our supplication both day and night which ordinarily will not have reached this level. The Compassionate God reciprocated by giving us a blessed night where we have to choice to alter our destiny for the better through fervent prayers on the Night of Majesty. We also endeavour to keep to the commandment of Allah by at least being generous to people, giving food to Muslims and non-Muslims who are in need.

The month offers strong emphasis on night worship, in addition to the day worship of fasting; it enables us to maintain good ideological character. We adapt ourselves to the spirit of giving and everywhere you go, you will be welcomed by any Muslim with a view to offer his own little assistance which is done to heed and obey Allah.

Night of decree The creatures and the environment becomes serene and we can for ones see the difference from other months. In a way, Ramadan has much to do with the preparation of Muslims for the task assigned to them by Allah which is absolute expression of love for one another. These and many more distinguish the month of Ramadan from other months of the year even though they have their own peculiarities.

Now, it is about the season of Laylatul Qadr, which is the best night of the year and worship on thisnightisbetterthanworshipping for a thousand months as said by the Almighty Creator Himself: “Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree Andwhatcanmakeyouknowwhat is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”

(Al-Qadr, 97:1-5) This night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’an. It was sent down from al-Lawh alMahfooz (the Preserved Tablet) to the first heaven on Laylat al-Qadr (the night of the Decree) all at once, then after that it was sent down in stages over twenty-three years.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (MALE radi-allahu-anhu) said, concerning the verse

“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.”

The Qur’an was sent down all at once on Laylat al-Qadr, then Allah sent it down to the Messenger of Allah (s) bit by bit. Badr ad-Deen az-Zarkashi said: If it is asked: what is the reason for the Qur’an being sent down to the first heaven all at once? The answer is to highlight its high status and the high status of the one to whom it was revealed. That was so as to announce to the inhabitants of the seven heavens that this was the last of the Books that was being sent down to the last of the Messengers and to the noblest of the nations.

The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said: “Whoever spends Laylat alQadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.”

That is why we are enjoined to say within these periods : Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are AllForgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me).”

It is a night of Decree in the sense that Allah accepts the dua of the supplicant and therefore if the dua is at variance to destiny, Allah

changes it by accepting the prayer. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Nothing can change the Divine decree except du’aa’ Allah appreciates the worship of his obedient servants in this night like no other night. Allah says, “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” The actions are blessed and valued better than the actions done in a 1000 months. 1000 months is equals to 83 years and 4 months and the Prophet (SAW) said: “The lifespan for my Ummah is from sixty years to seventy years.”

So Allah is giving us a lifetime full of worships and reward within one night time.

The angels and the Spirit descend on this night by permission of their Lord for every matter and they are excited to meet Allah’s obedient slaves.

Ibn Katheer said: A battalion of angels come down with Jibreel and they enter every Masjid, and approach every believer who is in worship and give him Salam.

This is only in Ramadan and for Muslims only. What a great honour!

Lagos Speaker urges Muslims to be change agents

By Ebun Sessou

T

HE Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has appealed to Nigerians and Muslims in particular to be agents of real positive change in the country.

Obasa, who stated this at a Ramadan Lecture organized in Lagos recently, where he delivered a keynote address, also called on Nigerian leaders to hasten the process of revamping the socioeconomic structure of the nation in order to effect real change in the life of Nigerians.

He disclosed that the country needed to do away with regime of impunity.

According to him, “For real change to occur in governance in Nigeria, the Speaker emphasized that ‘’our leaders, in their respective positions, must love Allah, obey His will, shun corruption, entrench respected institution of shura, allow rule of law, justice, and equity, transparency in governance, accountability and selfless service to govern their conducts in office.

“The clamour for change in the running of the affairs of our nation, he pointed out, became necessary ‘’when poverty and injustice in the

land had become the order of the day; oppression of the masses by the government through various methods pervaded the whole federation”, he said.

By Haruna Razaq

S the blessed month of Ramadan approaches its end, there are very important deeds that help the fasting Muslim bid the month a deserving farewell, increase his/her deeds and bring him/ her closer to Allah. These deeds include: (1) I‘tikaaf: Retreat in the mosque and stay there with the intention of seeking nearness to Allah and His reward.

According to the Hadith, the preferred time to do I‘tikaaf in the month of Ramadan is during the last ten days, however, those who cannot afford I‘tikaaf for ten days, may spend lesser days.

Furthermore, there are various opinions regarding the mosque in which I‘tikaaf is valid, but, the most acceptable opinion based on available evidences and in reference to this part of the world is a mosque in which Juma‘ah (Friday) salats holds with toilet facilities.

Toilet facilities (2) Seeking the Night of Qadr: The night is more virtuous and meritorious than one thousand months.

Evidences point to the fact that the night occurs in the last ten days of Ramadan, specifically in the odd numbers nights and most probably on the 27th of Ramadan. The Special invocation for the night is “Allahumma Innaka ‘Afuwwun, tuhibbul ‘afwa fa‘afu ‘ani” (Meaning: O Allah! You are most forgiving, and you love forgiveness; so forgive me (Tirmizi 2789) (3) Ending of Ramadan: The fast of Ramadan ends via two means: (i) by sighting of the new moon of Shawwal (the 10th month of Islamic/Hijrah calendar) on 29th of Ramadan

with Islamic conditions that concurred the rulings of notable Islamic Scholars from different parts of the worlds including leading Islamic Scholars of Saudi Arabia. Part of the conditions says: that the new moon of Shawwal must be sighted by a minimum of two trustworthy Muslims, the moon must be sighted in the country the person resides and must be endorsed by the Muslim leader in that country. For example, in Nigeria by His Eminence, Alhaj Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. (ii) If the new moon of Shawwal is hidden then Ramadan should be counted up to the 30th.

(4) Zakatul-Fitr: It is sadaqah (charity) that must be paid by every free Muslim who can afford food in excess for a day and night. He or she pays on behalf of himself and members of his household (male, female, young, old etc.) the quantity of one sa‘ (i.e. 4 Mudu) of commonly consumed food items of a community such as rice, beans, garri, corn, millet etc.

Some scholars are of the opinion that these items could be paid in their monetary values.

(Fatawa Mu’ashirah- page, 336).

(5) ‘Idul Fitr: is obligatory Sunnah according to majority scholars. It ethic include: Go for the ‘Id prayer with your family; perform Ghusl; wear a new (or best) of your clothes; eat before the Salah (Al-Bukhaari, 953); Proceed to‘Id pronouncing the takbirat (Q2:185) “Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, laailaha illa-lahu Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, Walillahi-l-hamd”; avoid nawafil at the ‘Id ground; listens to the Khuthbah after the Salah; congratulate one another and avoid sinful engagements; be happy and kind to others by giving them food, halal drinks etc.

L-R: Ustaz Solah Abu Yunus, Guest lecturer from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; Alhaji Quadri Zakkarriya; Sheik Habeebullahi Al-llory, Mudeer Markaz Islamic and Arabic Training Centre, Lagos and Provost, Diploma Section, Dr. A. Yusuf, during the centre’s Ramadan lecture held in Lagos, recently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 47

Lekki Muslim Ummah W or kshop Wor orkshop

Ramadan 23, 1436 A.H.

Ahmadiyya Muslims set 5-point agenda for Buhari

By Aderonke Adeyeri

T

HE Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat has set a fivepoint agenda for President Buhari and state governors urging them to eradicate hunger, ensure justice and fair-play for all Nigerians among other issues. In a statement, signed by Amir of the group, Dr. Mosh’ud Fashola, the Jamaat stated that the pursuit of these agenda would further ensure peace and progress of the nation.

Highlights of the agenda include: “Striving to eradicate hunger completely at State and Local Government levels; urged him to appoint only people of integrity and competence who possess the exceptional zeal, piety, and capacity to serve humanity as

political office holders; allocate adequate budget to Police so that they can be well trained, equipped, and well remunerated, to ensure full security to life and property for everyone.

The fourth point include: “ensure justice and fair-play such that every Nigerian has equal opportunity and equal right in all respects,

T

HE Former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ogun state, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu (FNCS) has called on all Muslims worldover especially the Alumni of the Ogun State-owned university, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye to be awakened to the new wave of change and also set individual and collective agenda to remain relevant in the country.

He also charged the Ummah to do and think of something new in order to fulfill the purposes of their existence as commanded by Almighty Allah.

“Our agenda as human beings is to renew our imam (faith) in Allah, accompany our faith with deeds, seek knowledge, engage ourselves in Dawah, and seek forgiveness from Allah.”

By Aliyu Dangida

A

Philanthropist and an All Progressives Congress, APC,chieftain in Jigawa State, Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Dano has commissioned a brand Islamic

Salisu gave the charge at the 13th Annual open lecture of the university ’s Muslim Alumni (OOUMA) held at the school main campus in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State recently.

Also speaking at the occasion, Professor Abdul Ganiyy Raji from the Engineering faculty, University of Ibadan implored all Muslims to be agents of change “every Muslim has a role to play if we truly want to achieve the change we all yearn for and that is our focus today. We have to change as an individual before coming together as the Muslim community and then work on our stakeholders and politicians”.

However, the immediate Past Chairman NACOMYO, Ogun state who was the chairman of the occasion and also an alumnus of the school, Barrister (Alh) Kamaldeen Otukoya called on executives of Muslim Students Association to rebuild MSS and kicked against creating another association for Muslim students.

Centre with a state-of-the-art facilities. The centre which is situated in Ruru village in Dutse local government of the A cross section of male participants at the workshop.

State has a Juma’at mosque that can accommodate 300 worshipers and Islamic School with four classrooms.

The center was named after wife of President, Aisha Buhari Islamic Centre and was commissioned by the Jigawa state deputy governor, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Hadeijia recently.

Speaking at the occasion, Haladu Dano, said he was compelled to rebuild the mosque which was built by his father 45 years ago after it became dilapidated, adding that his next plan was to build a maternity for the village.

A cross section of female participants at the workshop.

According to the Philanthropist, he named the center after Aisha Buhari because of her commitment to women and child development issues, urging the community to judiciously use the center as of worship. The Ramadan is all

By Anozie Egole a means of educational about fasting with sincerity to development of their children.

ENOWNED security attain piety and the pleasure of Speaking earlier, Emir of expert and chieftain of the our Lord. It is a college on its own Dutse, Alh. Nuhu Muhd All Progressives Congress where our faith and soul could Sansusi called on the people (APC), Amb. Abayomi Nurain be easily nurtured and filled with of Ruru village to seize the Mumuni has enjoined the piety. Essentially, the fasting is opportunity of the Islamiyya Muslims to maximize the not merely restricting oneself school to educate their from eating and drinking from children, adding that Villagers abundant rewards that comes dawn to sunset alone, it with the month of Ramadan and must educate their children in transcends that. We are expected sustain the many virtues taught both Islamic and western to use the month to strengthen schools in order to become by the holy month.

Mumuni, who contested for our relationship with Allah useful to the society.

Lagos governorship race in 2011 through numerous righteous under the defunct Congress for deeds. Our mouths, eyes and Progressives Congress (CPC), every other parts of our body who stated this in a Ramadan must be grossly engaged in message recently in Lagos, remembrance of Allah. This is rejoiced with the Muslim how we can feel the impact in Ummah in Nigeria and the entire our souls”, he added,”. pilgrims have deposited the world for witnessing this year’s He also commended President total sum of N700,000 with the Ramadan, urging them to use the Muhammadu Buhari for his proboard, called on the intending month to strengthen their active steps at combating the pilgrims to complete the relationship with Allah. menace of terrorism in the balance payment in their He said, “Ramadan is a rare country. He expressed hope that respective zonal centers on or opportunity for Allah’s the Boko Haram insurgency will before 17-7-2015 so as to forgiveness, blessings and soon be a forgotten issue, urging enable the board complete emancipation from hell fire. This Nigerians to be patient with the arrangements with National month calls for serious President.

Hajj Commission on time. engagement in reward-able acts

2,3 74 Jiga wa pilgrims tto o per 2,37 Jigaw perfform Hajj

By Aliyu Dangida

A

total of 2,374 intending pilgrims from Jigawa State will perform this year’s hajj obligations, as the State Pilgrims Welfare Board announced the 2015 hajj fare.

In a statement issued to Vanguard in Dutse by the Public Relations Officer of

From left: AbdulFatai Olajide, Sunday Editor, The Sun Newspaper, and other facilitators at the Lekki Muslim Ummah, LEMU workshop organised by the Ummah on recently.

Philanthropist names Islamic centre after Aisha Buhari

Muslims urged to be good change agents

By Aderonke Adeyeri

including freedom of conscience and association.

This is without prejudice to privileges for those in positions of authority or assigned wit exceptional responsibilities.

It further wanted a strict enforcement of the law in order to ensure equality before the law. "No one should be seen to be above the law. In that way, war againt crime will be effective."

the board, Mati Ali said,the Minimum hajj fare is N785,676.59 with $750 Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA); Medium hajj fare is N825,676.59 with $1,000 BTA and N924,676.59 as Maximum fare with $1,500 BTA. The statement explained that already each intending

Mumuni tasks Muslims to sustain virtues of Ramadan

R

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Hypertension: Take your health in your hands

By Chioma Obinna

A

N

IGERIANS have been called upon to take care of their health, especially in the wake of increasing cases of hypertensive disorders. President/ Chief Executive, Omron Healthcare Ltd., Andre Van Gils, said high number of deaths were as a result of hypertension, even as Nigeria ranks poorly in terms of awareness and individual management of hypertension.

Van Gils who was on a working visit to Nigeria towards assisting in tackling the prevailing rate of sudden death caused by hypertension and other related diseases, said it was shocking watching people queue to see a doctor in a hospital.

“In Nigeria, it takes hours to wait and see a doctor. But how can we get people to do more home blood pressure measurement and reduce the burden on the doctors? We know that 1 in every 3 adults is hypertensive.

“And many people are not aware of this. There are also a lot of children that suffer from respi-

No doctor and pharmacist will be more responsible to your health than you yourself

New test could predict arthritis failure

• L-R: Jan Weit Jens, Regional Sales Manager Africa, Omron Healthcare Europe B.V; Olugbenga Abiodun, Country Sales Manager Nigeria, Omron Healthcare Europe B.V; Andre Van Gils, President and CEO, Omron Healthcare Europe B.V; and Omaruaye Ogheneochuko, MD, New Heights Pharma during a media parley in Lagos last week. ratory diseases like Asthma. As such, it calls for health awareness.

“There are a many healthcare issues that need to be addressed in Nigeria. And Omron Healthcare through its business partner in Nigeria, New Heights Pharma, is helping to address them. Further, he disclosed that to contribute in reducing deaths from hypertension, it has set up a unit called Omron Academy.

“Through the Academy we try to engage healthcare practitioners to help educate these people on this silent killer disease. We also

have a training programme in several markets across the country.

We have a long term plan to see how we can help improve the Nigerian healthcare system.

Omron Healthcare produces healthy friendly products that address life- threatening diseases and help people improve their health. Managing Director, New Heights Pharma, Mr. Omaruaye Ogheneochuko, traced the increasing incidences of hypertension among Nigerians on ignorance. He urged Nigerians to take their health in their hands.

“No doctor and pharmacist will be more responsible to your health than you yourself.“ In the last three years, over 350,000 Nigerians have been screened for high blood pressure and enabled to be more aware of their blood pressure numbers.

“Awareness is key and sudden death is rampant. This is the kind of awareness we are driving for people to take control of their health and know their numbers; and also, in this new age, to facilitate a constructive conversation between with their doctors.

STUDY of 311 patients by The University of Manchester has found that it may be possible to predict early which rheumatoid arthritis patients will fail to respond to the biologic drugs given to treat them. These findings could help better manage patients' symptoms.

Rheunatoid arthritis is a chronic disease which affects up to 1.5% of the population. It is a significant health burden for patients, who can experience pain, reduced mobility and premature death unless they receive effective treatment.

Biologics are a relatively new form of treatment for Rheunatoid arthritis . Given by injection, they work by stopping particular chemicals in the blood from activating the immune system and attacking the joints.

In order to detect the antibodies and to measure the drug levels in the bloodstream, previously it was thought that the testing to detect the anti-drug antibodies and measure drug levels in the bloodstream, would only be helpful if performed immediately before the next dose of drug was due, when the drug levels are at their lowest in the body. The new study, funded by the Medical Research Council, Arthritis Research UK and the NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, shows that testing at random times is also effective and makes it easier to use in a clinical setting.

Experts seek legislations to regulate biomedical innovations

D

ESPITE advancement in biomedical practice globally, Nigeria is yet to establish legislation that would chat direction for biomedical engineering practice and advancement in technological healthcare services. To this end, health professionals at Eldorado Medic Jobs Recruitment LimitedForum in Lagos have called for urgent establishment of a regulatory frame work that would checkmate activities of professionals involved in biomedical practice as well as those in advanced medical procedures such as transplant and IVF. The experts who declared that the Nigeria healthcare is currently an unsafe environment said such legislations in place will save the lives of Nigerians from substandard medical equipment as well as poorly conducted advanced medical procedures. At the conference, erstwhile, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Femi Olugbile lamented the risk many Nigerians have been put in with the absence of local guidelines

and legal frame work for such advanced medical practice.

According to him, many people are doing advanced medical procedures like IVF, organ transplants under illegal backing and ethics guiding the practice.

“There is need for a frame work that would answer questions such as who is an IVF practitioner? Technically, it shouldn’t be anybody who has qualification in obstetrics and gynaecology and who got some vague experience and some equipment. There must be register of people who are doing most specialised procedures and there must be some guidelines that defines what they do and how they do it. The right of the people who participate in the procedure. The rights of recipient and donor in a transplant relationship must be protected.

What ethical rules should guide the behaviour of a donor, should a donor collect money or not.

Stating that the new health act tends to address the problem he said the Act was not specific.

“When people innovate some of these devices, the instruments

• L-R: Dupe Adebiyi, Area Manager HealthPlus; Molade Adeniyi, Pharmacy Services Manager HealthPlus; Bukky George, Founder & CEO HealthPlus, and Olorogun Dr. Sunny Kuku, Joint Chief Medical Director & Chairman EKOCORP PLC at the recently held Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award 2015 where HealthPlus Pharmacy won the Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year. should be vetted for operative procedures.The science must not

jump ahead of the law and at the same time the law must not hold

the science back. Everything must go hand in hand.

He stressed the need for the laws and regulations to be somewhat ahead of every level of development so that by the time someone discovers something that can carry out surgical procedure better, there will be regulations to take care of the registration, vetting and “no matter how smart the invention is, if it does not pass those defined steps it will not be allowed to be used. What we have now is unsafe medical environment where virtually anything goes.”

Speaking on the conference, the Executive Director of, Eldorado Medic Jobs Recruitment Limited,Dr. Ibifunke PegbaOtemolu explained that the conference was organised for Nigerian healthcare professionals to kick start the needed change in the way things are done in Nigeria healthcare system.

Speaking, a Biomedical Engineer, Dr Aderolu Omokayode stressed the need to establish a frame work that will protect biomedical engineering professionals in Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 49

Benue Gov, Ortom orders residents to surrender illegal arms M

ARKUDI—GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue state has issued an ultimatum to all those with illegal arms in the state to surrender them before the end of August or face arrest.

Governor Ortom, who gave the ultimatum yesterday in Makurdi during a meeting with heads of various security agencies in the state and the Civilian Joint Task Force on peace and reconciliation, however, pledged to compensate those who voluntarily surrendered illegal arms in their possession with money, skills acquisition training and integration into its empowerment program.

He listed categories of the compensation as N100,000, for automatic rifles, N50,000 for automatic pistols, N20,000 for locally made pistols and N10,000 for others.

He said a testimonial of good character and entrepreneurship training would be given to such a person who will be integrated into the empowerment schemes established by the government Ortom condemned the renewed spate of kidnappings, killings and cultism in the state and pledged that his administration was

determined to curb such activities.

He stressed his commitment to sustain initiatives that would guarantee peace and security of lives and property and commended the various security agencies for their efforts at assisting in that direction.

The governor also promised to commence immediate payment of allowances owed members of the Task Force and subsequently provide them with motorcycles, boots and helmets.

According to him, the decision is borne out of the need to motivate the various critical

stakeholders in the security sector to perform their duties creditably. He pointed out that with a secured atmosphere, the dream of his administration to woo investors into the state to boost its economy would be realized.

BURIAL: From left, Chief Thomas Eriyitomi, Mr. Mode Akoma, Prince Billy Mami and Mr. Blexons Omadoye during the burial of Mama Otiti Okosun at Uzea-Uromi, Delta State.

Okada riders protest alleged extortion

by KWARTMA in Ilorin I

By Demola Akiyemi

LORIN—THERE was pandemonium on the streets of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday as angry commercial motorcyclists, (Okada Riders), stormed major streets in the town, protesting alleged extortion by officials of Kwara State Road and Traffic Management Authority, demanding that the agency be scrapped.

KWARTMA was established during the administration of Senator Bukola Saraki to ensure free flow of traffic in the state.

The protesters went through the popular Post Office area, ITC/ Olaolu, Taiwo Oke and Taiwo Isale areas and later to the government house along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin.

Addressing journalists after meeting with the government officials, spokesman of the commercial motorcyclists, Adebowale Okunola, claimed KWARTMA officials were frustrating their businesses.

“We are not happy operating commercial motorbikes. It is because of the harsh economic situation. ‘’We are just doing it to survive so that we can cater for our needs.

We plead with the Kwara State Government to prevail on officials of KWARTMA to stop harassing and arresting us.

‘’If they arrest any of us, such a person will be forced to pay up to N10,000. That is too much.

How much do we make a day?

We plead with the government

to have mercy on us. They should scrap KWARTMA. “ Responding, the Chief Executive Officer, KWARTMA, Mr. Yekeen Babatunde Bello,

denied the accusation.

He said the ‘’claim by the Okada operators that our officials charge them N10,000 is a surprise to me. "

BAILOUT: NLC wants disbursement of funds

monitored

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

A

BUJA—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, faction led by Ayuba Wabba, yesterday, in Abuja, said it had directed its state councils across the country to monitor the disbursement and utilization of the intervention fund by the Federal Government to states to enable them pay backlog of salaries owed civil servants.

Congress urged the state councils not to hesitate to report any case of misapplication of the fund to Congress for immediate response.

The faction in a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter OzoEson, commended the Federal Government for releasing intervention funds to the states, saying “this intervention, no doubt, is a gesture that will go a

long way in enabling the states to discharge their obligations to the citizenry.”

According to the statement “It will be recalled that in our submission to the Presidential Transition Committee, we had made the point that Mr. President needed to intervene in resolving the issue of backlog of salaries."

We've created over 1,000 entrepreneurs, says GLC boss Hospice in Lagos, Mrs. Chiamaka our members”

L

By Daniel Eteghe

AGOS—PRESIDENT of Goldmine Liberty Concept, GLC, Mrs. Lizzy Chiamaka has said that the organisation has helped over 1,000 applicants seeking employment to become entrepreneurs.

Disclosing this development to newsmen during a courtesy visit to the Hearts of Gold Children’s

said the company was working with GT Bank and Access Bank to access funds for its members to enable them own businesses of their own in a striving society as Nigeria bedevilled by youth unemployment.

She said: “Since inception last year, we have helped over 1,000 people to start their own businesses. We work with Access Bank and GTB to access loans for

According to her, the reason for visiting the Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice orphanage is to give back to the society.

“Today is specifically set aside to give back to the society through helping the less privilege as that will make them feel the compassion of love

by God through us, so that is what we are here to do."

Bomb explosion rocks Yola

Y

By UmarYusuf

OLA—EXACTLY a month after a bomb explosion rocked Adamawa State capital killing scores of people and injuring many others, another explosion yesterday hit Kofare area of the metropolis with two persons sustaining injuries.

The blast occurred close to a mechanic workshop, opposite the state Headquarters of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, along the ever busy Numan Road.

Four under-aged children were said to have been given the explosive to drop at a specific place in Bachure suburb, mainly inhabited by retired military personnel.

Two of the children now in police net, were said to have claimed that an unknown person gave them the device to drop at the target after paying them N2,500.

The boys were said to have told the police that after collecting the container (explosives), it was too heavy for them to deliver at

Ericsson wins Total Telecom 2015 Africa award

L

AGOS—ERICSSON has been recognized with the 2015 Africa Award for “Social Contribution” for its Connect To Learn initiative.

The Africa Awards, organized by Total Telecom, recognize outstanding performance and innovation from the leading organizations in telecoms and the Internet of Things markets.

Ericsson is lead technology partner in Connect To Learn, an initiative created in collaboration with Columbia University’s Earth Institute and Millennium Promise, with a specific focus on increasing access to quality education for girls.

Since 2010, Connect To Learn has supported UNESCO’s “Education for All” goals by deploying mobile broadband and cloud solutions, combined with hands-on training in Information and Communications Technology, ICT, to schools in 12 African countries.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10 15 10,, 20 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OGADIMMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Agu Stanley Ogadimma Odii, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Agu Stanley Odii Udogadi. All documents bearing former names remain valid. General public please take note.

EJIYOOYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sarah Omowumi Ejiyooye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Omowumi Oginni. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MKPA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Affiong Udo Mkpa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Affiong Boniface Udo Udo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONWUMAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Onwumah Cletus, now wish to be known and addressed as Etukomeni Donatus.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IZUEGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Izuegbu Ngozi Evangeline, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emereonye Ngozi Evangeline. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKOMOLEDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Olubukola Olabimpe Akomolede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olubukola Olabimpe Benson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OTI—I, formerly known and addressed as Godgive Patricia Chinasa Oti, now wish to be known and addressed as Godgive Patricia Chinasa Chukwu. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Navy and general public please take note.

ADEWOLA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eunice Taiwo Adewola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eunice Taiwo Ajibode.

All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public please take note.

OYERONKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyeronke Folasade Oyebode, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyeronke Folasade Jimmy. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public please take note.

OBI—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Peter Hillary Obi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Hillary Ogana.

All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, GT Bank Plc and general public please take note.

EGBUNA—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Egbuna Fidelia Okwui, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Unachukwu Fidelia Okwui. All former documents remain valid. NIPOST and general public please take note.

AINA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mojisola Dorcas Aina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mojisola Dorcas Osundina. All former documents remain valid.

Anglican Nursery and Primary School and general public please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeke Blessing Uju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akukwe Blessing Uju. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SALIU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idiat Aweni Saliu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idiat Aweni Maroof. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLADIMEJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladimeji Tundun Christy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyebamiji Tundun Christy. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc and general public please take note.

EZENWANKWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinonye Celestina Ezenwankwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinonye Celestina Obimdike. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEYEYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesewa Adeyinka Adeyeye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesewa Adeyinka Olusola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EJIRIKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejirika Onyinye Nancy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. John-Chmezie Onyinye Nancy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IZUAGBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Chimaobi Ogbonna Izuagba, now wish to be known and addressed as Chimaobi Ogbonna Nwaigwe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGBORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Franca Aperepade Agboro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Franca Aperepade Idowu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eze Ginika Judith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osuala Ginika Judith. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGBEIDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eseosa Princess Ogbeide, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eseosa Princess IghoOsagie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IGBINOSA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rebecca Osasikemwen Igbinosa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rebecca Osasikemwen Osunde.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name

EZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzoma Chinyelu Eze, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uzoma Chinyelu Atakpo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABDUL HUSSEIN—I, formerly known and addressed as Izuagie Abdul Hussein, now wish to be known and addressed as Izuagie Oshiorumoya Victor.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

M A G DA L E N E — I , formerly known and addressed as M a g d a l e n e Atakerievwe Erhigan, now wish to be known and addressed as Favour Erhigan Atakerievwe Opiri. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Hope S. Nweke and Mrs. Hope Ayodeji Jimoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Hope Ijeoma Jimoh.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKAFOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Chinenye Okafor, now wish to be known and address as Miss Stella Chinenye Udokwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKUKINAM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nduke Akaninyene Ekukinam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nduke Akaninyene Emerald. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NELSON—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Douglas Doris Nelson, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Animadu Doris Paul. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LADERI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olali Rachael Laderi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oduye Briggs Rachael. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWAKERENDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezinne Jane Nwakerendu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezinne Jane Uwaifo.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O G U Z O R — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss U n u n u m a Chimiyuma Oguzor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. U n u n u m a Chimiyuma Onita. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JAMES-UME—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Kelechi James-Ume, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kelechi ChineduOmeh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I K E N UA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzoamaka Ifeyinwa Ikenua, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uzoamaka Ifeyinwa Nwabugwu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHUKWUEMEKA— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amaka Goodness Chukwuemeka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amaka Goodness Morgan. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MADUGBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ada Ezinwanyi Madugba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ada Ezinwanyi Okenna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEYEMO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tolulope Olubunmi Adeyemo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tolulope Olubunmi Adebayo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADENIYI—I, formerly known and addressed as Folashade Ruth Adeniyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Folashade Ruth Festus. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUNJOBI—I, formerly known and addressed as Omolola Suliat Ogunjobi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omolola Suliat Awotunde. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OSHIBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Oshiba Oluwabukunola Oluwagbemisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibrahim Oluwabukunola Oluwagbemisola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I,

Abiodun

Bola

Rebecca is the same person as Abiodun Princess. All former documents remain valid. DESPO and general public please take note.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10 15 — 51 10,, 20 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED MAJEKODUNMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Majekodunmi Anuoluwa Mariam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olabintan Anuoluwa Mariam. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ELENDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebubechukwu Elendu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebubechukwu Chibuzom-Pius. All former documents remain valid.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka and general public please take note.

CHIAZOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. Chiazoh Nneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. Mrs. Okereke Nneka Uzo. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia and general public please take note.

MANU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Manu Francisca Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obialor Francisca Chioma. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public please take note.

OKODOKO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okodoko Young Suoton, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Suoton Okodoko Isaac-Ado. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UNEGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Unegbu Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iwuagwu Eunice. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public please take note.

OKARO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okaro Oghale Joyce, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijomone Oghale Joyce. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OSIEGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Amaka Osiegbu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliet Amaka Ezemonye. All former documents remain valid. Delta State Polytechnic, OgwashiUku, NAU Awka and general public please take note.

ERONE—I, formerly known and addressed as Erone Jerry Uchenna, now wish to be known and addressed as Uchenna A l v i n Chukwumuanya. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABIAOBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Nsima Nsikak Abiaobo, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Nsima Udo Umoren.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IROKANSI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Irokansi Chinyere Ugwuezi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maduagwu Chinyere Ugwuezi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BOB-ECHIKWONYE— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejuma Patience BobEchikwonye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ejuma Patience Amen-Thompson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OCHE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Deborah Obokayi Oche, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Deborah Obokayi Ayo. All former documents remain valid. Min of Health and general public, please take note.

OZOEZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozoeze Stella Obiageli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ilouno Stella Obiageli.

All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

UNANAOWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Arit Edet Unanaowo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Arit Gideon David. All former documents remain valid. Anchor Insurance & Co. Ltd and general public please take note.

UMAR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Afodiya K. Umar, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Afodiya Mark.

All former documents remain valid. ECO Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public please take note.

IHEKIRE—I, formerly known and addressed as Major General Collins Remy Umunakwe Ihekire, now wish to be known and addressed as Major General Collins Remy Ugo Ihekire. All former documents remain valid.

HQ Nigeria Army, Niger Basin Authority, Niamey, Republic of Niger and general public please take note and act.

SARKI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Tidah Sarki, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Tidah Danladi. All former documents remain valid.

National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and general public please take note.

OKOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Onyemowo Okoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Onyemowo Akpala. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AZUKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chidi Joy Azuka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chidi Joy Shaibu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOSUOBIEOGU— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Cynthia Chinweokwu Nwosuobieogu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cynthia Chinweokwu Okolie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

World powers not in a hurry to reach nuclear deal with Iran -Kerry

T

HE United States and other major powers are not in a rush to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday , suggesting an accord was unlikely hours ahead of a deadline set by the U.S Congress for a quick review.

“We’re here because we believe we are making real progress,” Kerry told reporters in the Austrian capital. “We will not rush and we will not be rushed.”

However, Kerry cautioned that Washington’s patience was not unlimited. “We can’t wait forever,” he said. “If the tough decisions don’t get made, we are absolutely prepared to call an end to this process.”

He did not say how much longer the negotiations could continue.

Shortly after Kerry spoke, the White House said the talks would not likely drag on for “many more weeks.”

Over the past two weeks, Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have twice extended deadlines for completing a long-term deal under which Tehran would curb nuclear activities for more than a decade in exchange for sanctions relief.

Kerry’s announcement echoed earlier remarks

by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani during their meeting in Ufa, Russia, yesterday.

Zarif, who said Iran and major powers would not be hurried.

“We’re working hard, but not rushed to get the job done,” he said on his Twitter account.

France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the parties would continue negotiating overnight to try to resolve the “difficult issues” that remained in nuclear talks.

He added that “things are ... going in the right direction.”

Negotiators have given themselves until Friday.

But if a deal is not reached by 6:00 a.m. in Vienna (0400 GMT), the skeptical Republican-led U.S. Congress will have 60 days rather than 30 days to review it, extra time the administration of President Barack Obama worries could create new chances to derail it.

Russian Deputy For-

eign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said it was possible there would be an agreement in the coming hours. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian leader hoped for compromises that would enable an agreement soon.

Western countries accuse Iran of seeking the capability to build nuclear weapons, while Tehran says its program is peaceful. A deal would depend on Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear program in return for the easing of economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations, United States and European Union.

A successful deal could be the biggest milestone in decades towards easing hostility between Iran and the United States, enemies since Iranian revolutionaries stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Greek debt plans ‘to be submitted’

G

REECE will submit new proposals to its international lenders “shortly”, its defence minister has said, after the country’s cabinet met yesterday.

Greece is due to present the proposals by 22:00 GMT yesterday to secure a third bailout and prevent a possible exit from the eurozone.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been seeking agreement from his ministers.

The new proposals will be studied by eurozone finance ministers on Saturday and a full EU summit on Sunday.

Defence Minister and junior coalition party leader Panos Kammenos gave no further details of the agreed plans as he left the PM’s official residence, where ministers had been

meeting.

Mr Tsipras met his cabinet to get their support for the package, likely to include tax rises and pension reforms, before submitting it to Greece’s creditors.

On Wednesday Greece formally submitted a request for an unspecified

loan from the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

This would be a fresh loan “to meet Greece’s debt obligations and to ensure stability of the financial system”, Greece says in other words, to avoid bankruptcy.

Russia opposes UN resolution on tribunal for MH17 crash

R

USSIA yesterday said it was opposed to a U.N. resolution that would establish an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine last year.

Controversy continues over who downed the plane, bound from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 peo-

ple on board.

Ukraine and the West suspect it was destroyed by a Russian surface-toair missile fired by Russian soldiers or Russiabacked separatist rebels fighting in the area of eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies that and Russian officials and state media have alleged the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian missile or a warplane.

52 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

White House urges end to conflict in S/Sudan

LL British nationals are being urged to leave Tunisia because “a further terrorist attack is highly likely”, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said.

Thirty Britons were among 38 tourists killed in an attack there last month.

The Foreign Office estimates 2,500 to 3,000 UK tourists are in Tunisia and a few hundred

N a spray of burning em bers, South African police destroyed more than 14,000 firearms in the furnace of a steel manufacturing plant outside Johannesburg on Tuesday to mark International Gun Destruction Day. More than 11,500 of the firearms melted down were illegal, most of them handguns, South Africa’s National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are way, way too many illegal firearms out there,” she said.

“There isn’t a day that goes by without an illegal firearm being used to commit a crime.”

An average of 18 people is killed by a firearm each day, according to the lobby group Gun Free South Africa.

One of the most promi-

Akpabio, yesterday, threw his weight behind the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, saying that his emergence, June 9, was across party lines and a vote for experience by the senators.

According to Akpabio, the election of

PDP cautions Gov Massari against sacking council even as a human rights chiefs lawyer, Aminu Maigari,

By Lekan Bilesanmi

United States National Security Advisor Susan Rice Kiir and Riek Machar and their cronies are personally responsible for this new war and self-inflicted disaster,” Rice said.

In her message, Rice recalled how she and her teenage son went to Juba,

South Sudan’s capital, four years ago when the country won its independence from Sudan and ended a decades-long civil war.

“I remember the hope and unity of that day,” she said.

British residents.

It is advising against all non-essential travel to Tunisia, and some travel firms are repatriating their British staff.

The FCO said that although the Tunisian authorities have put in place more security measures, these do not “provide adequate protection for British tourists”.

It said in its updated advice that tour operators

al flights back to the UK. Britons are urged to get in touch with their tour operators to plan their return, with those travelling independently advised to return on commercial flights.

Tunisia declared a state of emergency after the 26 June attack. Plans to build a wall along its border with Libya to counter the threat from militants were announced earlier this week.

S/African police destroy thousands of illegal firearms

I

By Henry Umoru B U J A — F O R M E R governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senator representing North West senatorial district of the state, Senator Godswill

Tunisia attack: UK urges Britons to leave were arranging addition-

A

.Eyes Senate Minority Leadership position

A

P

RESIDENT Barack Obama’s national security adviser Susan Rice urged warring leaders in South Sudan yesterday to end their conflict, blaming the nation’s president, Salva Kiir, and rebel leader Riek Machar for “appalling crimes” and violence.

In an impassioned video message marking the fourth anniversary of South Sudan’s Independence Day, Rice called on parties to form a transitional government and said “it breaks my heart to see what South Sudan has become.”

“The government and rebels are committing appalling crimes against innocent women, children, and the elderly. President

Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, good for Buhari —AKPABIO

nent deaths was the murder of the national soccer team captain Senzo Meyiwa, shot last year in an apparent robbery.

South Africa introduced stricter gun laws in 2000,

increasing the age limit to 21 years, enforcing license renewals and limiting the number of firearms each person can own, said Adele Kirsten, spokeswoman for Gun Free South Africa.

Rights activists voice fears for missing Gambian journalist

A

high-profile Gambi an journalist has been missing for a week after being abducted by suspected intelligence agents, press freedom campaigners said yesterday , voicing fears for his safety.

Alagie Ceesay, manager of the independent Teranga FM, disappeared outside the radio station’s Banjul headquarters on July 2, Reporters Without Borders said in a state-

ment.

“We are extremely worried about Alagie Ceesay ’s disappearance,” said Clea Kahn-Sriber, head of the Africa desk at the rights group, known by its French initials RSF. While saying journalists being abducted was “nothing new in Gambia” Kahn-Scriber said “every day that passes increases our concern about Ceesay’s fate.”

OVERNOR AMINU Masari has been advised to exercise caution on his alleged plan to sack elected local government chairmen in Katsina State

G

Ugwuanyi, other govs to reposition PDP in S/E

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and governors in the South East geo-political zone elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,are to join hands to rebuild the party in the zone.

Governor Ugwuanyi stated this in an address on the occasion of an interactive session with the PDP Post-Election Review Committee at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu.

The governor described the session as apt as it would enable the PDP family gather and review its performance after the general election in which the party admittedly performed below expectation to the teeming supporters and faithful.

According to him, the interactive session would afford members of the party opportunity to thoroughly examine all factors and circumstances that led to the situation the party found itself with a view to moving it forward.

had filed an exparte motion at the state High Court to restrain the state government against the move pending the determination of the case.

In a release by Alhaji Salisu Aliyu Sukuntuni, Public Relations Officer of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Katsina State chapter, he said just as the governor is elected, the chairmen were duly elected, and until their tenure ends, the governor has no power to sack them.

“Section 7 of the Constitution states clearly that it does not recognize appointed chairmen.

"It only recognises elected chairmen. The chairmen were elected. When the election was to be conducted last September, the APC was asked to participate. Even for their sake, the fee for the forms for the various positions was reduced by half, but the party said it was not interested, and suddenly you say you want to sack them.

"When a former governor of Kano State, now senator, wanted to dissolve the councils elected under his predecessor, Mallam Shekarau, the court affirmed that the chairmen were legally and, duly elected and as such, he had no power to sack them.

“If he does not stop it, I may embarrass him, his government and even the president, whom we all know is an advocate of the rule of law. I am sure President Muhammadu Buhari will not attempt what the governor is trying to do."

Ekweremadu of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was not only a blessing for democracy, the country, but also for President Muhummadu Buhari’s administration.

Speaking with journalists, yesterday, at Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of PDP, shortly after he held consultations with the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, Akpabio said the election of an opposition member into such a position at the National Assembly would help ensure that issues before the legislature were examined in a more wholistic and all encompassing bi-partisan way.

Akpabio, who expressed interest in the position of Senate Minority Leader, which the PDP had already zoned to the South South, further explained that with Ekweremadu occupying such a position, issues in the Senate would be looked at in a bipartisan way which would make the 8th Senate to excel.

He said: “I think it’s very good for democracy because Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President was freely elected by senators.

“If you recall, he scored about 54 votes and the total number of PDP members in the senate are about 49.

Which means he was accepted across party lines.

And it is also possible that some of the senators of PDP did not vote for him and that we probably have more senators of the APC voting for him than the PDP. “But the major thing is that he was voted for across party lines. That’s the way the Senate wants it. They want an experienced person to work with the Senate President."

Edo guber hopeful commends Oshiomhole

G

OVERNORSHIP HOPEFUL in the 2016 governorship in Edo State, Pharm. Chris Iyare has commended Comrade Adams oshiomhole in taking the state to a new height in infrastructure development.

Iyare, who said Oshiomhole’s government had done well in building roads in the state, however, noted that if given the opportunity to govern the

state, he would work hard to sustain the developmental strides of the present government and improve upon them.

Iyare made this assertion during a lunch interactive session in his honour in Benin City, weekend.

According to him: “We know there are other challenges in our state such as youth unemployment, road and other infrastructural decay, but I

will strive to improve upon them. This government led

by Comrade Adams Oshiohmole had done tremendously well in the area of infrastructure” Pharm. Iyare, who declared his intention for the governorship race recently, said his dream of becoming the governor of Edo State started in 2012, saying it was borne out of his passion for the service of the people of Edo State.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 53

Eagles: Odegbami, Amiesimaka, others hail Oliseh’s choice S

EVERAL of the harshest critics of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have given their blessings to the proposed hiring of exNigeria skipper Sunday Oliseh as new coach of the Super Eagles.

Oliseh is expected to soon sign a five-year contract with the NFF after Stephen Keshi was fired as the country’s coach.

Ex-internationals Adokiye Amiesiemaka and Segun Odegbami have often been critical of the way football is run in Nigeria, but they have now applauded the engagement of Oliseh as the Eagles new coach.

“I give my 100% for the appointment (of Oliseh),” praised Amiesiemaka, who won Nigeria’s first AFCON winners’ medal in 1980.

“Oliseh is most brilliant and articulate, he can handle the national team. “(At full international level)managing egos and identifying the players who can fit and execute your plans on the pitch.

He can do that. Let them go out and get him.”

Odegbami, who had threatened to lead a protest march were Nigeria to hire a foreign coach for the national team, said Oliseh was the obvious choice for the top post.

“It’s a fantastic choice.

He’s the only one!” claimed Odegbami.

“He will lay a solid foundation for the development of Nigerian football.

“My only concern is that he will work with a foreign assistant when we have many very qualified Nigerians who can do this job as well.”

Those who oppose Oliseh’s engagement say

he has yet to coach his teeth as a coach.

However, Amiesiemaka argued that Oliseh is a gamble worth taking.

“Life itself is a risk,” he maintained.

“In 1990, Germany were coached by Franz Beckenbauer, who did not have any serious experience as a coach, no coaching licences, he was just an ex-international who played for many years for Bayern Munich and Germany.

N

IGERIA will renew its perennial rivalry with Ghana in the men’s event of the 2015 All Africa Games after both countries were drawn in the same group yesterday.

The tournament reserved for U23s will be staged in Congo Brazzaville in September.

The Dream Team is drawn in Group B, alongside the defending champions, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt.

For Samson Siasia’s Dream Team VI this will be an ideal dress rehearsal should the former Olympic champions qualify for the CAF U23 Championship in Senegal, which will serve as a qualifying tournament for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The team will battle Congo over two legs for a place at the U23 Championship in Senegal.

Group A is relatively lightweight as it has hosts Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso.

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals of the competition, which runs from September 4 to 19.

•Odegbami

•Amiesimaka

Chukwu okays him too Two former Nigerian national team coaches, Christian Chukwu and Austin Eguavoen believe Sunday Oliseh is “the right man for the Super Eagles at this time” after NFF confirmed the former Juventus star is in line to replace coach, Stephen Keshi.

Keshi was fired at the weekend and the NFF confirmed on Wednesday that it had held talks with Oliseh in London over the vacant Nigeria role.

Chukwu who managed the Super Eagles between 2003 and 2005 is certain Oliseh’s appointment will bode well for the Super Eagles.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Oliseh is the right man for the Super Eagles at this time. He has played under some of the best coaches in the world and as such, has a lot of experience,” Chukwu said.

Oliseh’s only previous coaching experience was in the Belgian fourth-tier with Verviétois but Chukwu does not think that will be a factor.

•Oliseh

•Chukwu

Mikel in talks with Fenerbahce J

OHN Obi Mikel looks likely to end his nine-year stay with Chelsea and join Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

This comes after it was revealed that the Super Eagles star has held talks with the club over a move which will see him leave Stamford Bridge.

Ersin Duzen, a presenter of Turkish football programme Futbol

Gunlugu, has revealed that Mikel held talks with Fenerbahce.

He claims Fenerbahce sporting director Giuliano Terrane has met with the player in London to discuss terms ahead of a future deal.

The Istanbul side has already signed Portuguese international Nani, while Robin van Persie looks likely to join from Manchester United.

FIFA Rankings: Eagles tumble 14 times

N

•Onazi

IGERIA dropped 14 places to 57th in the latest FIFA world ranking released on Thursday, despite recording a 2-0 win over Chad in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in June.

The Super Eagles also dropped two places to be ranked tenth African side behind Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Congo, Cape Verde

AAG: Nigeria draw Egypt, Ghana

Island and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Algeria continues to top the African rankings after moving two places to the 19th position in the world while second-placed Cote d’Ivoire climbed three places to 21st and Ghana zoomed nine places up to 25th in the world but remained third in Africa.

They are followed by Tunisia (32), Senegal (39), Cameroon (42), Congo

(47), Cape Verde Island (52), Egypt (55), Nigeria (57) to complete the African top ten.

Nigeria’s group opponents in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series also saw mixed fortunes as Egypt remained unmoved at 55, while Chad and Tanzania both dropped one and 12 places respectively to finish in 173rd and 139th spots.

•Mikel

54 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Transfer...Transfer....Transfer...Transfer....

PSG set to splash £43.2m on Di Maria

P

ARIS Saint Germaine have reportedly reach an agreement with Angel Di Maria over a possible move to the Parc des Princes this summer.

The Argentina international was Manchester United record signing last year after the 27 year old winger moved to Old Trafford from Real Madrid in a deal worth

We’ll sell Pogba, Vidal on two conditions — Juve boss

£59.7m.

The French Ligue 1 side have offered United £43.2million for the services of the former Real Madrid winger to move to Paris.

The Argentine wants to move to France and has already agreed a deal in principle. Manchester United are now waiting for an offer but a deal could take until the end of July to complete.

J •Di Maria

Van Persie undergoes medicals for Fener

M

ANCHESTER United striker Robin Van Persie has agreed to personal terms with Turkish side Fenerbahce and had a medical yesterday in London. He is expected to arrive in Instanbul

today.

Turkish daily Bugün, reported that Fenerbahçe will pay Manchester United a total of GBP 6.5 million while the Dutch international player will get more than the GBP

240,000 weekly wage he had at Old Trafford.

31-year- old Van Persie has struggled to break into the first team since Louis Van Gaal took reign as manager in the 2014-2015 season. The Dutch international had scored 10 goals out of 29 games last term.

Fenerbahçe has made international headlines in the summer transfer market with signing Manchester United’s

•Van Persie

Portuguese winger Nani for EUR 6 million early in the week.

The Istanbul-side is undergoing an ambitious renewal of its squad ahead of next year ’s UEFA Champions League campaign. Fenerbahçe have also brought in Coach Vitor Periera, Danish skipper Simon Kjaer from Lille, 28year-old Brazilian goal scorer Fernandao amongst others.

UVENTUS director Giuseppe Marotta says that his club will only sell its best players if they demand to leave.

Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo have already left Turin this summer, while midfield pair Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba have both been strongly linked with moves to other clubs.

Marotta is not keen to see Juve’s best assets

•Pogba

Nzonzi off to Sevilla

S

Gyan’s greedy, Ghanaian administrator claims

G Sterling continues Liverpool sit-out

L

IVERPOOL forward Raheem Sterling has missed training for a second successive day, according to reports.

Press Association Sport understands the 20-year-old has reported in sick again, having initially failed to attend on Wednesday.

It is understood that Sterling spoke to manager Brendan Rodgers earlier this week and informed him that he did not want to travel on the pre-season tour.

The squad are due to fly out on Sunday ahead of their first friendly against a Thai All Stars side in Bangkok next

week.

Sterling has been the subject to two failed bids from Manchester City, the last an offer of £40million, and they continue to monitor the situation.

Protocol dictates Sterling has to be assessed by the club’s medical staff to determine the extent of his illness and if he is deemed to be fit enough to train there is the possibility of him being fined.

Despite another missed training session, Liverpool remain determined to have him on the plane with the rest of the squad on Sunday.

HANAIAN football administrator Takyi Arhin has taken a swipe at Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan concerning his reported move to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG. The 29-year-old striker arrived in China on Wednesday and is expected to finalise a threeyear deal which includes weekly earnings of $250,000, according to sources.

Arhin claims Gyan is now concentrating on his pocket to the detriment of

the national team.

“Asamoah Gyan has to be told plainly that the money he is getting is too much.

He and his family are now only interested in money at the expense of Ghana.

They are too money conscious,” Arhin told Kumasi-based Angel FM. “When he left Sunderland for UAE, we managed to contain it.

With his new move, there will be some decline. What kind of competitive football is played in China?

Nzonzi

TOKE City midfielder Steven Nzonzi has completed his move to La Liga side Sevilla the Potters have confirmed.

The 25-year-old has sealed a £7million move to the Europa League champions ending his three-year stay at the Britannia Stadium.

He has agreed a fouryear deal and will have a buyout of 30million Euros.

Stoke agreed a fee with Sevilla yesterday and after the player flew out to Spain for talks, the deal has now been confirmed.

Arsenal sign on Marta

A

•Gyan

depart but says it is ultimately the player ’s choice if they wish to depart.

“We will not sell our best players, our top assets unless the players themselves ask us to leave,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “In addition, we don’t need cash so we’re not prepared to accept any discount offers on the price of our players.”

RSENAL have com pleted the signing of Barcelona star Marta.

The 23-year-old joins the Gunners' Ladies having won four consecutive league titles with Barcelona in Spain.

She team up with compatriots Vicky Losada and Natalia Pablos Sanchon in the Arsenal squad.

The midfielder could make her debut this Sunday against Liverpool when the Women’s Super League

restarts after the break for the World Cup. Five Arsenal players were involved in the England squad in Canada - Alex Scott, Jordan Nobbs, Lianne Sanderson, Siobhan Chamberlain and Casey Stoney - as they finished with the bronze medal.

Marta has 28 Spain caps and was involved as they failed to get past the group stage in the tournament.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 55

Serena sails into Wimbledon final •Outshines Sharapova 17th time in a row M

ARIA Sharapova, saddled with history and a ball-toss that rebelled, suffered for an hour and 19 minutes in the glare and heat of Centre Court before watching Serena Williams ease past her for the 17th time in a row and into the final of the 2015 Wimbledon.

Whatever the pretty words they spout – and they do, on cue – there is always spice when they meet, just not a lot of equality.

Every time Williams looks across the net and sees Sharapova staring back she surely thinks to herself: “You’re the queen off the court. This is my place – and it always will be.” The American did not face a single break point.

It is the rivalry that isn’t, a serial nightmare for the Russian, an opportunity for Williams to show who is, by a distance, the best player in women’s tennis since Steffi Graf and, in all likelihood, due to be crowned the very best before she retires.

She should also be the owner of 21 slam titles by late Saturday afternoon – one behind the German – if, as universally expected, she dismantles the Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruzu to win her sixth Wimbledon final, having lifted the trophy in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Sharapova, the highestearning female athlete in the world, loses to Williams whether she plays well or not, and she was rarely more than a bystander as the world No1 took her apart in front of a Centre Court audience as embarrassed as they were unsurprised.

Williams has won US$6,175,648 (about £4.02m) in prize money this year, nearly three times as much as Sharapova.

Over her career she was won $69,676,428 – nearly twice as much as Sharapova. Yet each time they meet it is an event. There is not a weirder duality in sport.

“I got a little nervous out there,” Williams said courtside, unconvincingly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been this far at Wimbledon. She played really well, but when she stepped up her game I stepped up mine as well. '' C M Y K

AGONY OF DEFEAT — Sharapova

ROARING OF A CHAMP — Serena

Murray mobbed by fans

A

NDY Murray was mobbed by supporters on his way to practice at Wimbledon on Thursday as he gears up for his semifinal with Roger Federer.

Murray overcame Vasek Pospisil in straight sets in the quarter-final on Wednesday, while Federer cruised beyond Gilles Simon of France.

But 24 hours after his victory on Centre Court, the Scot was surrounded by a mass of supporters as he headed for Court 15 to prepare for Federer.

Murray met supporters with typical warmth, posing for pictures and signing autographs at SW19.

After defeating Pospisil, Murray admitted his humiliating 6-0, 6-1 loss to Federer last year caused a rude awakening in how he goes about trying to defeat the world’s best.

‘A lot of people around me were very, very worried by that match,’ Murray said. ‘I felt quite calm about it, but it was obviously an embarrassing scoreline.

‘But I looked at the few weeks before then, the matches that I played at the O2, the matches I played against Novak Djokovic over that period as well, assessed it and asked, ‘Where am I going wrong against the top guys

Djokovic set for Gasquet hurdle

D

Murray (lower centre) was greeted by hundreds of fans on his way to the 15th court at SW19 and what is it that I need to do to get back to that level competing with them?’ I tried to be rational about it.’

Federer said he believes

Murray’s heavy loss was caused by tiredness and is not banking on a similar result on Friday. ‘I think when I played him, he was

a bit cooked, to be honest.

I played a great match, but it was not the Andy that usually comes up and shows up,’ Federer said.

Muguruza beats Radwanska G ARBINE Muguruza has become the first Spanish woman to reach the Wimbledon final since Arantxa SanchezVicario in 1996 after beating Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 62, 3-6, 6-3 in an absorbing Centre Court con-

test.

The match ended in a slightly bizarre fashion when Radwanska challenged a call on a point that went her way anyway - on the apparent advice of her box.

Because she chal-

lenged what she thought was an overhit shot, Hawk-Eye was brought into play, and ruled that in fact Muguruza’s shot was in, not out. So Muguruza won that point, giving her match point.

She converted for a famous victory.

EFENDING champion Novak Djokovic will clash for the 13th time with Richard Gasquet in the semifinals of Wimbledon. It is their third meeting at a Grand Slam, their first on grass.

For the top-seeded Serb, a chance at a fourth Wimbledon final, a 17th major final overall, is on the line. Meanwhile, Gasquet is looking to reach his first Grand Slam final and become the second Frenchman in the Open Era to reach the championship match at the All England Club (also Cedric Pioline in 1997).

Djokovic enters his 27th Grand Slam semifinal on the heels of his 650th tour-level match win, which he recorded with a straight-sets victory over reigning US Open champion Marin Cilic in the last eight.

“It’s definitely something that makes me proud,” said Djokovic.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Serena sails into Wimbledon final

th •Outshines Sharapova 17 time in a row

Eagles: Chukwu, Amiesimaka, others hail Oliseh Mikel in talks with Fenerbahce African top 10

•Oliseh

FIFA Rankings: Eagles tumble 14 times

1. Algeria 2. Ivory Coast 3. Ghana 4. Tunisia 5. Senegal 6. Cameroon 7. Congo 8. Cape Verde 9. Egypt 10. Nigeria

•Serena

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Introduce (6) 5 Frightened (6) 9 Unwilling (5) 10 Daunt (6) 11 Elevated (6) 12 Exclude (5) 14 Pitcher (4) 17 Parched (3) 18 Pottery (4) 20 Challenged (5) 22 Lubricated (5) 23 Fish (7) 24 Material (5) 26 Senior (5) 29 Paradise (4) 30 Marshland (3) 32 Facts (4) 33 Drink (5) 35 Clank (6) 36 Required (6) 37 Change (5) 38 Shore (6) 39 Give (6)

DOWN 1 Really (6) 2 Quartz (6) 3 Clothed (4) 4 Played (5) 5 Wander (5) 6 Scorch (4) 7 Scamp (6) 8 Evaded (6) 13 Spanned (7) 15 Declined (5) 16 Lac (5) 18 Flourish (5) 19 Readjusted (5) 21 Barrier (3) 22 Individual (3) 24 Wreckage (6) 25 Tidier (6) 27 Dashed (6) 28 Attacker (6) 30 Sphere (5) 31 Fresher (5) 33 Family (4) 34 Unusual (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Stain 7, Titled 9, For 10, Per 12, Ladle 13, Maid 15. Besom 17, Fettle 19, Push 20, Cheer 22, Elf 24, Mingled 27, Pea 28, Arena 31, Area 33, Stated 35, Wiser 37, Wind 38, Cedar 39, Dip 41, Row 42, Demean 43, Ashen.

DOWN: 1, Atomic 2, Strife 3, Rep 4, Solo 5, Tramp 6, Illusion 8, Debt 11, Relegated 14, Deem 16, Sell 18, Trip 21, Hairless 23, Feat 25, Ness 26, Drew 29, Edited 30, Ardent 32, Aware 34, Arid 36, Iron 40, Peg.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K